Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861

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Webster, Noah. An American Dictionary of the English Language.... New York: Published by S. Converse; New Haven: Printed by Hezekiah Howe, 1828.

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Noah Webster. An American Dictionary of the English Language.... New York: Published by S. Converse; New Haven: Printed by Hezekiah Howe, 1828. 1:Title page.

Webster toiled for many years to create an “American” dictionary of the English language appropriate to distinctive elements of American political culture compared to Britain’s.

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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English Language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. Now an identity of ideas depends materially upon a sameness of things or objects with which the people of the two countries are conversant. But in no two portions of the earth, remote from each other, can such identity be found. Even physical objects must be different. But the principal differences between the people of this country and of all others, arise from different forms of government, different laws, institutions and customs....