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Pamphleteer

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Pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets, unbound (and therefore inexpensive) booklets intended for wide circulation. Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions: to articulate a political ideology, for example, or to encourage people to vote for a particular politician. During times of political unrest, such as the French Revolution, pamphleteers were highly active in attempting to shape public opinion.

Before the advent of telecommunications, those with access to a printing press and a supply of paper often used pamphlets to widely disseminate their ideas.

Famous pamphleteers

Thomas Paine's pamphlets were influential in the history of the American Revolutionary War.[1] Another famous pamphleteer was 17th-century Dutch naval officer Witte Corneliszoon de With, who wrote papers mocking and praising his fellow-officers [citation needed]. Poet and polemicist John Milton published pamphlets as well.

See also

References

  1. ^ James A. Henretta et al. (2011). America's History, Volume 1: To 1877. Macmillan. p. 165. ISBN 9780312387914.