Read this passage from the book the history of the united states. what is the implied main idea? to the schools, few and scattered as they were, and to the vigilance of parents, a very large portion, perhaps nearly one-half, of the colonists could read. through the newspapers, pamphlets, and almanacs that streamed from the types, the people could follow the course of public events and grasp the significance of political arguments. an american opinion was in the process of making—an independent opinion nourished by the press and enriched by discussions around the fireside and at the taverns. when the day of resistance to british rule came, government by opinion was at hand. for every person who could hear the voice of patrick henry and samuel adams, there were a thousand who could see their appeals on the printed page. men who had spelled out their letters while poring over franklin's poor richard's almanac lived to read thomas paine's thrilling call to arms. more people could read in america than could read in europe. benjamin franklin was most responsible for teaching men to read. if the colonists had not been able to read, they might not have fought for independence. there were not many schools in colonial america.