Chapter 4 A Development of Popular Press

Quote:

"Growing literacy, schooling, and a burgeoning economy and civil society
were generating larger markets for reading matter. With these markets came both
the rise of indigenous literary publishing and the transformation of print into
a form of mass entertainment and information. America followed a different path
from Europe in the development of both high culture; and a popular press. During
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in Europe, royal courts were the centers
of high culture, the writers looked to royal and aristocratic patrons for
material support and prestige" (Starr, 114)

Analysis:

Obviously with the literacy rate rising due to a greater amount of educated citizens, there will be a greater demand for books. The rapidly growing literacy rate led to larger markets for reading matter. This was a great thing for people of all classes because their culture was about to witness an intellectual revolution were not only the rich were educated but now everyone would have a chance. This also led to more communicating between citizens because of literacy and education. A Civil society in America was about to be much more common, the number of intellectuals were about to double. With the demand for books and education came a rich society economically and socially.