One thing about the pre-Internet times I don't hear much about is how much more centralised our media were and how, as a result, people or ideas on the fringe of society didn't get much attention. That includes for instance how the strange ideas about vaccines or ethnic groups now spread much easier than they did before the Internet, but also how trans* people and other marginalised groups find it much easier to find and support each other and be a united front against oppression.
In summary, I don't thing that what has been termed "the great awokening", nor the organised opposition against it, could have taken place before the Internet. At least not at this scale.
Ah good. Now I know what specs not to buy.