Noah Webster: Federalist Educator

 

Birth:
West Hartford, Connecticut, 1758.

Death:
New Haven, Connecticut, 1843.

Family:
Parents -- Noah Webster, Sr. and Mercy Steele.  Two brothers and two sisters.  
Wife -- Rebecca Greenleaf.  Children --Harriet, Emily, Julia, Mary, Louisa, William.

Education:
Tutored by Rev. Nathan Perkins.  Attended Yale College, 1774-1778.

Professions:
Teacher.  Lawyer.  Author.  Journalist.  Publisher.

Other roles:
Agitator for copyright laws.  Propagandist for the Revolutionary War.

Homes:
Connecticut.  New York.  Pennsylvania.  Massachusetts.
 

 

Thoughts on Education:
”The training of children in the path of integrity and virtue is the best
method of securing their future rectitude of conduct, their reputation, their
influence, and their usefulness.”

Educational Books:
A Grammatical Institute of the English Language, Part I (Speller), Part II (Grammar), Part III (Reader).  An American Dictionary of the English Language.   History of the United States.  Revised English edition of the Bible.

Other Contributions to Education in America:
Improved elementary schools. Founded two middle schools. Established Amherst College.

Motivation:
New England work ethic.  Economic security.  Egocentrism and self-promotion.  
Status and recognition.  Nationalism.

Political Progression:
In youth, a faith in the innate virtue of Americans, liberty/ freedom, toleration of diverse opinions, a stable, utopian republic.
Supported frequent elections.  Against equality of distinction and influence.  Against extension of the suffrage to non-property-holders.  Against parties and factions.
In later years, the conclusion that Americans lacked good character, and the fear that virtueless, blasphemous men (namely, President Jefferson) had gained power in American politics.
 

 

Beliefs:
Hard work. Obedience to God. An absolute moral code. Governance by an
elite. Progress and scientific research.

Causes of His Conversion:
Parents’ emphasis on spiritual and religious success.  Wife and daughters’ salvation during a revival.  Influence of the Second Great Awakening.  God’s grace.

Testimony of Salvation:
”I closed my books, yielded to the influence which could not be resisted or
mistaken and was led by a spontaneous impulse to repentance, prayer and entire
submission and surrender of myself to my maker and redeemer.”

What Made Him Happy:
”Books and business will ever be my principal pleasure.  I must write: it is a happiness I cannot sacrifice.”

 

HANDOUT

 

Noah Webster -- Federalist Educator
Presented by Sharon Rose Enterline

Birth:
__________________, Connecticut, 1758.

Death:
__________________, Connecticut, 1843.

Family:
Parents -- __________________and Mercy Steele.  Two brothers and two sisters.  Wife --____________________.  Children -- Harriet, Emily, Julia, Mary, Louisa, William.

Education:
_____________ by Rev. Nathan Perkins.  Attended __________ College, 1774-1778.

Professions:
_____________.  Lawyer.  Author.  _____________.  Publisher.

Other roles:
Agitator for ______________ laws.  ________________ for the Revolutionary War.

Homes:
Connecticut.  New York.  Pennsylvania.  Massachusetts.

 

 

Thoughts on Education:
”The training of children in the path of _____________ and virtue is the best method of securing their future rectitude of ______________, their reputation, their influence, and their ________________.”

Educational Books:
A _______________ Institute of the English Language, Part I (Speller), Part II (Grammar), Part III (Reader).  An American _______________ of the English Language.  History of the United States.  Revised English edition of the ___________.

Other Contributions to Education in America:
Improved ______________ schools.  Founded two middle schools.  Established _____________ College.

Motivation:
New England work ethic.  Economic security.  _______________ and self-promotion.  Status and recognition. ________________.

Political Progression:
In youth, a faith in the ___________ virtue of Americans, liberty/ freedom, toleration of diverse opinions, a stable, utopian _____________.  Supported frequent elections.  Against equality of distinction and influence.  Against extension of the _____________ to non-property-holders.  Against parties and factions. In later years, the conclusion that Americans lacked __________________, and the fear that virtueless, blasphemous men (namely, President ____________) had gained power in American politics.

 

Beliefs:
Hard work.  _____________ to God.  An absolute moral code.  Governance by an _________.  Progress and scientific research.

Causes of His Conversion:
Parents’ emphasis on spiritual and religious success.  Wife and daughters’ salvation during a ___________.  Influence of the Second Great Awakening.  God’s grace.

Testimony of Salvation:
”I closed my books, yielded to the influence which could not be resisted or mistaken and was led by a spontaneous impulse to ____________, prayer and entire submission and _____________ of myself to my maker and redeemer.”

What Made Him Happy:
”_________ and business will ever be my principal pleasure.  I must __________: it is a happiness I  cannot sacrifice.”

 

(c) 2004 Sharon Rose Enterline