"A splendidly researched and persuasively argued historical review of the original intention of the First Amendment's promise of press freedom."--The New York Times Book Review "Intellectual and cultural history of a high order....Not only constitutional scholars and historians of journalism, but everyone interested in American colonial culture and in the ideological roots of the Bill of Rights will enjoy this book."--Paul Boyer, University of Wisconsin "Smith's rigorous scholarly work fosters an important and continuing debate on the concept of press freedom."--Everette E. Dennis, Columbia University "This ambitous, audacious effort rethinks large chunks of American and English history in relation to eighteenth century American newspapering and pamphleteering and presents the origins of First Amendment theory in a new light." Journalism Quarterly "An important contribution to First Amendment history."--David A. Anderson, University of Texas, Austin "A splendidly researched and persuasively argued historical review of the original intention of the First Amendment's promise of press freedom."--The New York Times Book Review "Intellectual and cultural history of a high order....Not only constitutional scholars and historians of journalism, but everyone interested in American colonial culture and in the ideological roots of the Bill of Rights will enjoy this book."--Paul Boyer, University of Wisconsin "Smith's rigorous scholarly work fosters an important and continuing debate on the concept of press freedom."--Everette E. Dennis, Columbia University "This ambitous, audacious effort rethinks large chunks of American and English history in relation to eighteenth century American newspapering and pamphleteering and presents the origins of First Amendment theory in a new light." Journalism Quarterly "An important contribution to First Amendment history."--David A. Anderson, University of Texas, Austin