N E W S P A P E R S
When it came to opinion and influence during the Civil War, newspapers became great communicators, playing a vital part in relaying information on the war to the public. Reporting on political debates, battle outcomes, and casualties, newspapers updated citizens on happenings both on and off the battlefield.
Newspapers also became an opinionated tool for shifting bias, making it the source of war propaganda, sometimes even publishing fake accounts and articles, casualties, battle results, or heated letters from citizens. This sometimes left vast differences between Northern and Southern papers reporting on the same battle. Depending on the popularity of the newspaper, its circulation could sway the outcome of local or even national politics.
Winkleman, Roy. "Clippix ETC: An Online Picture Service of Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse." Civil War Newspaper Headlines. N.p., 26 Mar. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. <http://etc.usf.edu/clippix/picture/civil-war-newspaper-headlines.html>