76 Questions
What is one of the significant contributions of Noah Webster to the U.S. Constitution?
The copyright and patent protection clause
Noah Webster was a teacher and education reformer.
True
What is the name of the antislavery group founded by Noah Webster?
The Connecticut Society for the Promotion of Freedom
Noah Webster's great-great-great grandfather, John Webster, came to America from __________ in 1636.
England
Match the following books with their authors:
Sketches of American Policy = Noah Webster To Kill a Mockingbird = Harper Lee The Great Gatsby = F. Scott Fitzgerald Pride and Prejudice = Jane Austen
What is one of the institutions founded by Noah Webster?
Amherst College
Noah Webster was a political activist.
True
What is the name of the first complete written constitution in known history?
The Fundamental Orders
Where did Noah Webster travel to in search of the meaning and etymology of words?
England and France
The Webster dictionary was not influenced by spiritual revival.
False
What is the definition of 'conversion' according to Webster's dictionary?
A change of heart, or dispositions, in which the enmity of the heart to God and his law and the obstinacy of the will are subdued, and are succeeded by supreme love to God and his moral government, and a reformation of life.
Webster dedicated his dictionary to _______________.
God
What is the name of the computer program that makes the 1828 Webster dictionary available?
Swordsearcher
The 1859 edition of the American Dictionary of the English Language retained Webster's religious definitions and biblical quotations.
False
What is the name of the college that Webster helped to found in 1820?
Amherst College
Match the following dictionaries with their publication years:
American Dictionary of the English Language = 1859 Webster's International Dictionary = 1890 Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary = 1910
Webster's dictionary was originally published in _______________.
1828
Webster's dictionary is no longer in print.
False
What was one of the features of the government that became part of the U.S. Constitution 150 years later?
Elections by secret ballot
Noah Webster was a student at Yale College in 1775 when George Washington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
True
What was the name of the Yale graduate who was executed by the British as a spy in 1775?
Nathan Hale
Noah Webster's parents were pious _______________
Congregationalists
Match the following philosophers with their influence on Noah Webster:
John Locke = Rationalistic philosophy Jean-Jacques Rousseau = Rationalistic philosophy Jesus Christ = Christianity Thomas Clap = Opposing the Great Awakening
Noah Webster believed in the Bible's account of the creation and fall of man.
False
What was the title of Noah Webster's published series of essays in 1785?
Sketches of American Policy
What was the concept that Noah Webster adopted from John Locke?
Tabula rasa
Noah Webster married Rebecca Greenleaf of _______________ in 1795.
Boston
Noah Webster had a major role in the formation of the American union with a strong state government.
False
What was the significance of Rev. Mr. Stuart's visit to New Haven?
He was visiting his friends and coincidentally met Noah Webster
Noah Webster's speller only taught children to spell and read.
False
What was the common language of America that Webster's speller promoted?
English
The replacement of Webster's speller with bilingual education and multicultural education has resulted in the creation of a huge new nation within the United States, where children are growing up semiliterate in both English and their _______________ tongues.
native
Match the following quotes with their authors:
'I know in whom I have believed,' = Noah Webster 'national language' was their 'band of national union' = Harlow Unger 'the common language of America' = Chauncey Goodrich
Noah Webster's speller was used in American classrooms for less than a century.
False
What is the result of the replacement of Webster's speller with bilingual education and multicultural education, according to Harlow Unger?
Creation of a huge new nation within the United States
On what date did Noah Webster die?
May 28, 1843
What event influenced Noah Webster's understanding of human nature and led to a spiritual conversion?
The Second Great Awakening
Noah Webster believed that human nature is a blank slate.
False
What was the title of Noah Webster's speller published in 1783?
Grammatical Institute of the English Language
Noah Webster's dictionary, published in 1828, defined about _______________________ words.
70,000
Match the following languages with the languages Noah Webster studied for his dictionary:
Greek = Hebrew Chaldea = Syriac Spanish = Celtic
Noah Webster's dictionary was a commercial failure.
False
Who wrote the introduction to the 1849 edition of Noah Webster's dictionary?
Chauncey Goodrich
What was the title of Noah Webster's dictionary published in 1828?
American Dictionary of the English Language
Noah Webster's speller was popularly known as the _______________________ Speller.
Blue-Back
Noah Webster was not interested in the education of American citizens.
False
What was Noah Webster's contribution to the formation of the United States Constitution?
He proposed the idea of a new constitution through the press
The framers of the Constitution incorporated all of Webster's principles into the framework.
False
What was the primary reason why Webster's ideas on compulsory education and the abolition of slavery were rejected?
As part of a compromise to win the support of Southern states for ratification
In 1837, Webster wrote an essay under the pseudonym _______________.
Sidney
What was Webster's view on the power of the people by the spring of 1787?
The power of the people should be limited
Webster believed that democratic governments are always free and peaceful.
False
What is the title of the essay written by Webster in 1837?
A Voice of Wisdom
According to Webster, the whole sin of the old Washington federalists was attempting to _______________.
incorporate our government, or establish by law, some power which should effectively control or prevent such popular violence
Match the following individuals with their roles:
Noah Webster = Author of Sketches Alexander Hamilton = Author of the Federalist essays James Madison = Author of the Federalist essays Harlow Unger = Biographer of Noah Webster
Webster's Sketches was published after the Federalist essays.
False
What is the significance of the Bible according to Noah Webster?
The chief moral cause of all that is good and the best corrector of all that is evil in human society
According to Noah Webster, a nation can be great in population and wealth without obeying God's laws.
False
What is the source of correct republican principles according to Noah Webster?
The Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion
According to Noah Webster, moral habits cannot safely be trusted on any other foundation than _______________ principle.
religious
What is the importance of the Bible in education according to Noah Webster?
It is the only book that can serve as an infallible guide to future felicity
Noah Webster believed that a nation can be great without being morally upright.
False
What is the condition for a durable free republic according to Noah Webster?
Good moral character as taught by the Bible and biblical Christianity
According to Noah Webster, a nation will be _______________ if it disregards God's laws.
doomed to incessant internal evils, and ultimately to ruin
Match the following quotes with their corresponding authors:
The Bible is the chief moral cause of all that is good, and the best corrector of all that is evil, in human society; the best book for regulating the temporal concerns of men. = Noah Webster Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens = Noah Webster Revelation alone furnishes satisfactory information on...Who made me? Why was I made? What is my duty? = Noah Webster
Noah Webster believed that a civil government of a republican form can exist without the principles of the Christian religion.
False
What is the foundation of all free government and social order according to Noah Webster?
Families and discipline of youth
Noah Webster believed that moral discipline must be taught to children.
True
What is the purpose of teaching moral discipline to children according to Noah Webster?
To make them yield obedience to the practical laws of Christian morality
Any system of education that limits instruction to the arts and sciences, and rejects the aids of __________ in forming the character of citizens, is essentially defective.
religion
Why did Noah Webster believe that citizens must elect righteous men to positions of authority?
All of the above
Noah Webster believed that education is the only factor that determines the character of citizens.
False
What did Noah Webster describe as the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people?
The Christian religion
The speculative principles of natural religion will have little effect, or none at all, unless the pupil is made to yield obedience to the practical laws of __________ morality.
Christian
Match the following quotes with their authors:
God is the supreme moral Governor of the world he has made... = Noah Webster When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers... = Noah Webster The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty... = Noah Webster He spoke of his long life as one of uniform enjoyment... = Noah Webster's son-in-law
Noah Webster died in May 1843 at the age of 70.
False
Study Notes
Early Life and Education
- Noah Webster was born in 1758 and lived until 1843
- He was a teacher, founder of several schools, education reformer, political activist, lawyer, judge, founder of two newspapers and a magazine, and author of over 30 books
- His father, a deacon, and mother, pious Congregationalists, wanted him to know Christ and live according to biblical principles
- Webster attended Yale College in 1775 during the American Revolution
Influence on American Society
- Webster's book "Sketches of American Policy" (1785) influenced the formation of the U.S. Constitution and the federal government
- He believed in the power of the people, but later cautioned against the dangers of democracy
- He was a strong advocate for education, morality, and the Bible as the foundation of American society
Spirituality and Conversion
- Webster experienced a spiritual conversion in 1808 during the Second Great Awakening
- He became a thorough-going Bible believer, including the Bible's teachings on creation, the fall, and redemption through Christ
- His conversion motivated him to promote Bible-based education in America
Contributions to Education
- Webster published a speller in 1783, known as the "Blue-Back Speller," which standardized spelling and pronunciation in America
- He also published a reader that included a call for the abolition of slavery
- His American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) defined around 70,000 words and included biblical quotations and definitions
- The dictionary was a product of spiritual revival and was dedicated to God
Later Life and Legacy
- Webster helped found Amherst College in 1820 to counter the Unitarian influence of Harvard and Cambridge
- He believed that the Bible is the chief moral cause of all that is good and the best corrector of all that is evil in human society
- He advocated for the authority of Scripture in guiding human life and society### Noah Webster's Views on Christianity and Government
- Webster believed that the Bible, particularly the New Testament, is the genuine source of correct republican principles.
- He emphasized the importance of moral habits and religious principles in making good citizens, stating that "whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens."
- Webster thought that a republican government cannot exist and be durable without the controlling influence of Christian principles.
The Role of Christianity in Government
- Webster believed that God's laws are essential for a nation's security and prosperity, and that disobedience to these laws leads to corruption and ruin.
- He argued that the Christian religion is necessary to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.
Electing Righteous Men to Authority
- Webster believed that it is essential to elect righteous men to positions of authority, as they will rule in the fear of God.
- He warned that neglecting this duty will lead to corruption, selfish laws, and the violation of citizens' rights.
Moral Discipline and Education
- Webster taught that moral discipline must be taught to children, and that education without Christian training is "defective."
- He emphasized the importance of teaching children to submit to authority and develop good moral habits from an early age.
The Importance of Christian Education
- Webster believed that education should be based on Christian principles, and that a system that limits instruction to the arts and sciences is "essentially defective."
- He emphasized the importance of teaching children to believe in their accountability to God and human laws.
Noah Webster's Life and Death
- Webster died in May 1843 at the age of 84, expressing his entire resignation to the will of God and his trust in the atoning blood of the Redeemer.
- His death was described by his son-in-law as a peaceful and trusting surrender to God's will.
The Legacy of Noah Webster's Work
- The loss of Webster's materials from America's educational system reflects both a religious and a political apostasy, as politics is a reflection of religion and philosophy.
- The replacement of Webster's speller with bilingual and multicultural education has led to a decline in national unity and an increase in cultural divisions.
Learn about Noah Webster's life, achievements, and influences on American society, including his contributions to education and politics.
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