what was the first documented act of terrorism in a newspaper?

---

Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 21 Jul 2005 08:16 PDT

What is your definition of an "act of terrorism," or more
specifically, "terrorism"?  Terrorism has a long history and various
meanings.  See, for example:

"terrorism"
Answers.com
http://www.answers.com/terrorism&r=67

---

Clarification of Question by emailquestion-ga on 21 Jul 2005 12:08 PDT

It is a fuzzy question, terrorism evolved over time as did the media.
But the most specific I can be is: when was the first use of the word
terrorism in an American or Western publication since the invention of
the gutenberg press (1450)?

I would also accept: what was the first modern intentionally
destructive event characterized as a terrorist act since the invention
of the gutenberg press (1450)?.

You should exclude declared wars.

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 21 Jul 2005 12:51 PDT

Hello emailquestion,

Would this be the kind of information you're looking for?

"The term "terrorism" comes from the French 18th century word
terrorisme based on the Latin language verbs terrere (to tremble) and
deterrere (to frighten from). It dates to 1795, and originally used to
describe the actions of the Jacobins in their rule of
post-Revolutionary France, the so-called "Reign of Terror". The
Jacobins are even said to have coined the term "terrorists" to refer
to themselves, although that is not certain."
Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism


Thanks,
Bobbie7

The word terrorism harks back to the French Revolution and the
infamous Reign of Terror.

The Oxford English Dictionary cites an early use of the term in 1795:  

"Hist. in Ann. Reg. 112/2 It would..renew the reign of terrorism..." 



I found a use in the London Times dated May 27, 1795 (replete with
old-style f's where you'd expect the letter 's').  The quote is  from
the National Convention in France, and the speaker someone named
Louvet:


=====
"You are the reprefentatives of 25 millions of people.  Fifty
difaffected persons fhall not give you the law.  Order the gallery,
whence those out-cries proceed, to be cleared.  Terrorifm and Royalifm
are hard at work.  Unite all your efforts to deftroy them."  (The
Affembly arofe in a body, to teftify their approbation and applaufe).
=====


I trust this information fully answers your question.

However, please don't rate this answer until you have everything you
need.  If there's anything more I can do for you, just post a Request
for Clarification, and I'm happy to assist you further.

pafalafa-ga


search strategy -- Searched the OED database and newspaper databases
for the term terrorism

---

Request for Answer Clarification by emailquestion-ga on 22 Jul 2005 06:28 PDT

Can I get a copy of this paper? (maybe pdf)

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 22 Jul 2005 06:44 PDT

Hello again,

Sorry to hear that you thought this a less than 5-star answer.

Perhaps there's some confusion, though, as your comment asks when the
term appeared in the newspaper.

As I stated in the answer, the quote provided is from the London
Times, dated May 27, 1795.

Hope that helps.

paf

Good background on the word terrorism, but when did it appear in a newspaper

Many sources (including the unabridged Oxford English Dictionary) cite
1795 as the date of the first use in print of the word "terrorism":

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22the+word+terrorism%22+1795

According to the US Code: Title 18 Terrorism is
(http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2331.html):

(1) the term ?international terrorism? means activities that?
(A) involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a
violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State,
or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the
jurisdiction of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended?
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction,
assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United
States, or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by
which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to
intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators
operate or seek asylum;
(2) the term ?national of the United States? has the meaning given
such term in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act;
(3) the term ?person? means any individual or entity capable of
holding a legal or beneficial interest in property;
(4) the term ?act of war? means any act occurring in the course of?
(A) declared war;
(B) armed conflict, whether or not war has been declared, between two
or more nations; or
(C) armed conflict between military forces of any origin; and
(5) the term ?domestic terrorism? means activities that?
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the
criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended?
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction,
assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Through my research, "it seems that the nearest act of terrorism would
be "could be the terrorism of Spain and Portugal who chased out the
Jews in the 1400s" (http://www.d4maths.lowtech.org/jobzap.htm)...
during the Spanish Inquisition when the Spanish tried to convert the
non-Christian Jews.