Jackson Creek Middle School

Patriot and Loyalist Propaganda

Pamphlets were used to spread the word about political ideas during the Revolutionary War.  To learn about the political ideas one should read the old pamphlets because that is where the political ideas first appeared during colonial times.  The pamphlets helped shape people's feelings about the War.  Both sides used pamphlets, broadsides, and cartoons for propaganda to argue for their cause.  A pamphlet is a booklet and a broadside is one piece of paper with writing expressing ideas and commentary.  People would read them and pass them on, so many people read them.
The Bostonians in Distress, 1774, by Philip Dawe

Just like Paine's and Chalmers' writing and response of Common Sense and Plain Truth, other writers also fought the Pamphlet Wars.  They fought with words and ideas,  not weapons.  For example, after the First Continental Congress passed a resolution to break off trade with Britain, a New York farmer, doctor and minister, Samuel Seabury, wrote a pamphlet opposing the resolution.  This pamphlet was called  Letters of a Westchester Farmer and was published in 1774.  Seabury published many loyalist pamphlets throughout the War.

Read Plain Truth

People also used political cartoons to express and spread ideas.  Some examples of Patriot cartoons can found in the Lilly Library at Indiana University.

"The Bloody Massacre", 1770, by Paul Revere and Henry Pelham

Colony and Early Republic cartoons at IU's Lilly Library

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This webpage was created by Tessa P.
Last updated on 1/20/2004