In the years just before the American movement for separation from Great Britain (it was not a "revolution," properly speaking, as the American separatists had no desire to transform the government of Great Britain; they merely wished to be free of it) there was something called the committees of correspondence.

They were the 18th century equivalent of non-"authoritative" (i.e., official/corporate-government propaganda) Internet sites, such as the one you're reading right now. A means by which people could share information – especially heretical information – among themselves, sidestepping the "authoritative" pabulum.

They spread more than information, too.  They also spread hope, almost as important as the information itself. The people reading and back-and-forthing realized they were not alone. That others – intelligent, thoughtful people – shared their views.

The importance of this cannot be overstated.