Boilerplating America

Focuses on the inland, small town newspapers that were the most widely read publications during the era between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the century. These little journals were the conveyers of ready-print (the hidden newspaper) and related boilerplate series. The author discusses both the good and bad sides of ready-print/boilerplate. Despite its hidden monopoly power, in its way it contributed to the development of a workable American 'free press.' It had enormous influence over what Americans would read and served to homogenize the country and build a sense of national union. It enabled the spread of the town newspapers and kept big-city newspapers from becoming the national voice. It was also a prime force of prohibition. Will be of interest to students of American history and the history of journalism.