The First Influence

Newspapers in the early elections of America

Newspapers were one of the first forms of media, and played a crucial role in America’s early elections. Print media was the primary source of information, and would shape the public’s opinion and influence the outcome of elections. Newspapers were used not just to communicate, but also to engage voters, show advocacy, and partisan conflicts. During election season there were electoral issues that would cover debates, speeches, and other news in politics. Readers could also learn more about their party’s policies and where they stand on different issues. Newspapers were accessible to everyone, even those in rural areas, making the paper an even more powerful education tool. 

The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists/Democratic-Republicans were the first two major political parties, and they were strongly conflicted with each other. The newspapers often served as the battlefield for the parties and their ideological disagreements. The press was an effective way to campaign. Editors would utilize their newspaper to promote the candidate or party that they support. They would showcase their policies and compare them to the opposing party’s policies. This shows the beginnings of the partisan press. The New York Evening Post promoted the Federalist party, and The National Gazette promoted the Democratic-Republicans. Both papers would criticize the other and promote their own ideologies. They would write persuasive passages and insert propaganda. 

Being a form of media, and the only one at the time, newspapers had a pivotal role in shaping public opinion. Newspapers would exaggerate claims or distort facts to mobilize voters (a tactic that we still see today). The press had the power to change how people would view candidates, for better or worse. A candidate’s image could be molded to portray a certain character however the publisher pleased. The candidates wanted to gain the favor of large newspapers to ensure they could be portrayed in a positive manner that would attract more voters. On the other hand, any sort of negative press could destroy a candidate’s campaign, or even their entire political career. 

Newspapers had the power that social media holds today, but information was not spread as quickly or as far sometimes. The press was an active participant in campaigning and the political process. This first form of media set the stage on where new media would go from here and foreshadowed the role the media will have in the future. These newspapers, their publishers, and editors laid the foundation for electioneering, political campaigning, and party rivalry. All of these practices can be seen in America’s democracy today.

Sources:

"American Elections and Campaigns – 1800 to 1865: Politics in the Antebellum Press." The Reagan Library Education Blog, November 3, 2022. https://reagan.blogs.archives.gov/2022/11/03/american-elections-and-campaigns-1800-to-1865-politics-in-the-antebellum-press/.

"Competing Visions: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans." OpenEd CUNY. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://opened.cuny.edu/courseware/lesson/346/student/?section=5.

"Newspaper Endorsements and the Importance of Candidate Quality in Politics." Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University, August 14, 2023. https://www.iq.harvard.edu/news/newspaper-endorsements-and-importance-candidate-quality-politics.