Interpret the Evidence
What changes in language did Noah Webster propose (Document 8.11)? What reasons did he offer for these changes? Why was it important to develop an American language distinct from the English language used in England?
What was Benjamin Franklin’s opinion on hard work and saving money (Document 8.12)? Why do you think he made this point in his autobiography? What was his goal in founding the library, and why did Franklin believe the library was successful?
According to Samuel Jennings’s Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences, who represents liberty (Document 8.13)? What are the benefits of liberty, and who, according to Jennings, should have access to these benefits? Why do you think the painting was controversial?
Why do you think Mason Locke Weems introduced the story of the cherry tree into his biography of George Washington (Document 8.14)? What does the story say about Washington and his family? Does it matter that the event never actually occurred?
How does Washington Irving’s portrayal of Rip Van Winkle and his wife differ from the depiction of women offered by Jennings? How do Rip’s junto (club) meetings compare to those in Franklin’s Philadelphia? What might this story, written nearly thirty years after the works of Webster, Franklin, and Jennings, suggest about the changes taking place in the United States by the early nineteenth century?
Put It in Context
Which groups of Americans led in the formation of a national culture and identity? How did they portray women, working people, and African Americans in their stories and paintings? How might including more diverse voices have shaped the nation’s history, literature, language, and identity?