1	1776-1830’s From pages 33-68 in American Reading Instruction, special edition, by Nila Banton Smith, published by the International Reading Association, Newark, DE, 2002
2	"Religious education no longer main..." Religious education no longer main focus of reading Focus shifts to struggle for political freedom and business development
3	"More newspapers" More newspapers More literate people Politics replaced theology State began to control education and brought about secularization
4	"Content of reading textbooks includes..." Content of reading textbooks includes strong patriotic tone This is reflected in the names of books used in classroom The American Spelling Book An American Selection of Lessons in Reading and Speaking American Popular Reader
5	"Nationalism shaped reading teaching methods" Nationalism shaped reading teaching methods More emphasis on rules and “correct” pronunciation
6	Noah Webster Wrote many of the popular readers of the time Concerned about “purity of language in America”
7	Moralism Also Important Previously, reading looked on as a way to the good life Religious teachings considered too narrow an approach One of the most important functions of education was to make children good, or to build character Readers (books used to teach reading) were considered carriers of moralistic content
8	Readers Included… Exercises and rules for pronunciation and enunciation designed to “overcome” dialects Patriotic selections American authors Historical selections Informational selections designed to inform children objects in their immediate environment and concerning affairs of state Oratorical selections designed to develop elocutionary abilities Admonitions, proverbs, advice on good behavior Realistic stories Poems depicting admirable character Fables with a strong moral tone
9	Key Figures Noah Webster Caleb Bingham Lyman Cobb George Hillard Lindley Murray
10	Reading Methods Learning alphabet considered extremely important Emphasis on articulation and pronunciation Increased attention on elocution, which was considered important under a democratic, representative form of government