Propaganda and the American Revolution, 1763-1783. By Philip
Davidson.

Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1941. Pp. xvi,
460. $4.00.

Philip Davidson's Propaganda and the American Revolution
adds another to the numerous and growing list of worthy pub-
lications of the University of North Carolina Press. The author
accepts the definition of propaganda given by Leonard W. Doob
in Propaganda, Its Psychology and Technique, "which is simply
an attempt to control the actions of people indirectly by con-
trolling their attitudes." The important contribution of the
volume under review, it seems to me, lies in presenting the
hitherto little known contributions of less important revolu-
tionary leaders and in evaluating the contributions of the va-
rious factors in the broad field.

Leading propagandists, such as the Adamses, Josiah Quincy,
William Livingston, Thomas Paine, Jefferson, and the Lee broth-
ers, are considered, as one would expect, but a great number
of less important and less well known agents of propaganda
are treated. Both the essayists and orators of the "rabble
rouser" type are considered. The great influence of the min-
isters as a class is clearly shown; newspapers, pamphlets, broad-
sides, and magazines, important approximately in the order
listed, are evaluated. Periods of intensity of action are shown
with corresponding reactions at intervals. The period of great-
est activity came immediately preceding the Declaration of In-
dependence, followed by a decided relaxation due to a number
of factors, such as the entry of important leaders into the
Congress or the army, and the attainment of the object of
independence, which gave power to take stronger action against
the loyalists. After a rather long period of mild action, there
was a considerable revival in 1777, followed by some decline,
with a definite renewal of intensity in 1778 at the time of the
French Alliance and the British peace proposals. The lowest
slump came in 1779, followed by a renewal of activity in 1780
at the time of the arrival of the French expeditionary forces
and British successes in the south. This was sustained until
after Yorktown late in 1781.

The importance of newspapers is indicated by giving excerpts
and by showing duration of publication and volume of circula-
tion. Considerable attention is given to pamphlets, which usually
were made up of essays, sermons, reports of the Continental
Congress, and the like. Broadsides supplemented newspapers,
spread late news, and avoided the use of signatures. In the
pre-revolutionary period, the Whigs controlled the legislature,
committees of correspondence, and most newspapers. This en-
abled them to work from within, whereas ordinary revolution-
ary activities have to work from without and are handicapped
by secrecy and lack of adequate means of spreading doctrine.
Thus the revolutionists in America had a decided advantage
which they used most effectively. In building up opposition to
British officials and measures, appeals were made to all types
of interests and fears. Much was made of the danger of losing
religious freedom by the setting up of an American episcopate.

The book is remarkably free of typographical errors, and
the format in general is attractive.

College of Mines.

J. L. Waller.

How to cite:
"Propaganda and the American Revolution, 1763-1783", Volume 46, Number 2, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v046/n2/review_DIVL2588.html
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