Editing Noah Webster (section)

===Slavery===

Initially supportive of the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist movement]], Webster helped found the [[History of slavery in Connecticut|Connecticut Society for the Abolition of Slavery]] in 1791.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xxSGv0uGKkYC&q=%22noah+webster%22+abolitionist&pg=PA1801 |title=Noah Webster and the First American Dictionary, Luisanna Fodde Melis, Rosen Publishing Group, New York, 2005 |access-date=December 9, 2011|isbn=9781404226517 |last1=Melis |first1=Luisanna Fodde |year=2005 |publisher=PowerPlus Books }}</ref> However, by the 1830's he began to disagree with the movement's arguments that Americans who did not actively oppose the institution of [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]] were complicit in the system. In 1832, Webster wrote and published a [[history]] textbook titled ''History of the United States'', which omitted any reference to the role of slavery in [[History of the United States|American history]] and included [[Racism against African Americans|racist]] characterizations of [[African Americans]]. The textbook also "spoke of whiteness [[White supremacy|as the supreme race]] and declared [[Anglo-Americans|Anglo Saxons]] as the only true Americans."<ref>{{Cite web|first=Abigail|last=Covington|title=The Long and Gruesome History of the Battle Over American Textbooks|url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a41368609/teaching-white-supremacy-donald-yacovone-interview/|publisher=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|date=September 27, 2022|access-date=December 7, 2022}}</ref> In 1837, Webster criticized his daughter Eliza for her support for the abolitionist movement, writing that "slavery is a great sin and a general calamity—but it is not ''our'' sin, though it may prove to be a terrible calamity to us in the north. But we cannot legally interfere with the South on this subject. To come north to preach and thus disturb ''our'' peace, when we can legally do nothing to effect this object, is, in my view, highly criminal and the preachers of abolitionism deserve the penitentiary."<ref name="americanaejournal.hu">Florea, Silvia. ''Americana'' Vol. VI, No 2, Fall 2010 "Lessons from the Heart and Hearth of Colonial Philadelphia: Reflections on Education, As Reflected in Colonial Era Correspondence to Wives." [http://americanaejournal.hu/vol6no2/florea#fn7]</ref>