There was no social media or television to spread the word when America declared its independence from Britain in 1776. Information about the American Revolution came from newspapers. An exhibit at the Newseum in Washington D.C. shows the power of newspapers in 18th century America. The Newseum is a museum about the news and reporting. Patty Rhule is exhibit development director for the Newseum. She said: “The exhibit tells the story of the printers and publishers in colonial America who helped make the case for independence, who fanned the flames of revolution.” The Pennsylvania Evening Post was first to publish the freedoms called for in America’s Declaration of Independence. “Today, we get news over our Facebook feeds, or on Twitter, or Instagram, or on the radio or on television.”

What does exhibit mean?
difficult to believe
support for a cause
the original 13 colonies
a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space
How did information about the Revolution spread?
radio
Instagram
newspapers
Twitter
An exhibit at the Newseum shows the power of newspapers.
Newseum
Smithsonian
MoMA
library