The Providence Gazette facts for kids
The Providence Gazette was an important newspaper during the time of the American Revolutionary War. It was the only newspaper printed in Providence before 1775.
Contents
Starting the Newspaper
The first issue of The Providence Gazette came out on October 20, 1762. It was started by William Goddard and his partner John Carter. They printed the newspaper in the basement of Goddard's home in Providence.
The newspaper was printed on large sheets of paper. The very first page had a picture of the king's arms on it. The Gazette was published every Saturday.
John Carter Takes Over
In 1768, John Carter became the only owner of the newspaper. He continued to run it for many years.
Fighting the Stamp Act
The Providence Gazette was one of many newspapers that spoke out against the Stamp Act. This was a law passed by the British government in 1765. It made colonists pay a special tax on printed materials, like newspapers and legal documents.
Many colonists did not like the Stamp Act. Printers and publishers especially disliked it because it made their newspapers and pamphlets more expensive. The Gazette often printed letters from people who were protesting this tax.
William Goddard even stopped printing his newspaper for a few months in 1765 because of the Stamp Act. The newspaper started up again in January 1767. William Goddard and his older sister, Mary Katherine Goddard, worked together on it.
The Stamp Act was finally removed on August 9, 1766. After this, The Providence Gazette began to be published regularly and became a very important newspaper in America during the 1700s.
New Leadership During the War
On July 26, 1775, Benjamin Franklin became the Postmaster General. This meant he was in charge of all the mail services. He chose William Goddard to inspect post offices and mail routes in the colonies.
Because William Goddard was busy with his new job, his older sister, Mary Katherine Goddard, took full control of The Providence Gazette.
Supporting the Colonies
The Providence Gazette was published every week. Before the American Revolution, it strongly supported the rights of the colonies. During the war, it continued to help the cause of the new country.
After the war, when America became independent, The Providence Gazette kept promoting ideas about republican principles. These principles focused on citizens having power and choosing their leaders.
