The role of the media in this year’s presidential elect cycle has received quite a bit of attention. For educators and citizens who are interested in exploring how the news and public information have influenced the public and private lives of the American people from 1730 through the Civil War, I recommend this great free digital resource from the American Antiquarian Society.

The sites covers the following content areas –

(1) News in Colonial America

(2) News in the Age of Revolution

(3) News in Antebellum America

(4) News and the Civil War