Category Archives: Noah Webster

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The Union of the American States, from Sketches of American Policy

The Union of the American States (1785)

by Noah Webster

No PERSON can be said to enjoy civil liberty who has no share in legislation, and no person is secure in society unless the laws are known and respected. 

In despotic governments, where the scepter is swayed by an individual, the ruler, whether denominated an emperor, a king, or a bashaw, having the sole right of making and executing laws, is the only person who enjoys any liberty. Every individual within his dominions is a slave. In this case, the interest of the individual, of the magistrate, and of the supreme power are all united, and government is of course as active as possible. Hence the vigor and decision of military operations when the power of the general is without limitation.  Continue reading The Union of the American States, from Sketches of American Policy →

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Noah Webster

An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution

An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia: With Answers to the Principal Objections That Have Been Raised Against the System.

by Noah Webster (original attribution: “By A Citizen of America,”  Oct 17, 1787)

Of all the memorable eras that have marked the progress of men from the savage state to the refinements of luxury, that which has combined them into society, under a wise system of government, and given form to a nation, has ever been recorded and celebrated as the most important. Legislators have ever been deemed the greatest benefactors of mankind—respected when living, and often deified after their death. Hence the fame of Fohi and Confucius—of Moses, Solon and Lycurgus—of Romulus and Numa—of Alfred, Peter the Great, and Mango Capac; whose names will be celebrated through all ages, for framing and improving constitutions of government, which introduced order into society and secured the benefits of law to millions of the human race.  Continue reading An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution →

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Noah Webster

Noah Webster – Biographical and Critical Sources

Babbidge, Homer D. On Being American. Edited by Roger Whitlow. Chester, CT: Pequot Press, 1975.

Unger, Harlow Giles. The Life and Times of Noah Webster: An American Patriot. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1998.

Scudder, Horace E. Noah Webster. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1890.

Chervinsky, Lindsay M. Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic. New York: Oxford University Press, 2024.

Webster, Noah. The Autobiographies of Noah Webster: From the Letters and Essays, Memoir, and Diary. Edited by Richard M. Rollins. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1989.

Rollins, Richard M. The Long Journey of Noah Webster. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1980.

Web Sources

“Effects of slavery, on morals and industry. By Noah Webster, Jun. Esq. Counsellor at law and member of the Connecticut Society for ehe [sic] Promotion of Freedom. ; [Two lines from Shakespeare].” In the digital collection Evans Early American Imprint Collection.

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/N20179.0001.001.

University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed July 23, 2025.content_copy

 

Webster, Noah Jr –“An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia, with Answers to the Principal Objections That Have Been Raised Against the System, by a Citizen of America”.  (1787)    https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/a-citizen-of-america-an-examination-into-the-leading-principles-of-america/