While we cannot literally bring these extraordinary minds to our present day, we can examine their writings, speeches, and actions to glean insights that transcend time. Their legacy isn't simply preserved in museums and history books—it lives in the ideals and principles they established, which remain as relevant today as they were in 1776.
The Founders' World and Ours: Bridges Across Time
The Founders lived in turbulent times, facing challenges that, while different in form, mirror many of our own struggles. They navigated political division, economic uncertainty, and the fragile experiment of self-government. They understood that republics are delicate creations, requiring vigilant citizens committed to certain fundamental truths.
Noah Webster, whose educational philosophy guides our academy, understood this perhaps better than most. As he wrote in his 1828 dictionary, education must "enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations." He recognized that a republic's survival depends on the character and knowledge of its citizens.
If our Founding Fathers walked among us today, examining our institutions, our character, and our educational practices, they would likely offer three critical pieces of advice—counsel that forms the cornerstone of Noah Webster Academy's educational philosophy.
1. Have Faith in God
The Founders, while diverse in their specific religious beliefs, shared a profound conviction that Divine Providence guided America's birth and would sustain its future. Even those like Jefferson, who embraced Enlightenment rationalism, acknowledged the Creator as the source of our rights and liberties.
George Washington captured this sentiment in his Farewell Address, warning: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports." He understood that without a moral foundation—one rooted in faith—the republic could not endure.
Benjamin Franklin, often characterized as among the least conventionally religious Founders, nonetheless proposed daily prayer during the Constitutional Convention, stating: "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men."
If here today, these men would likely be alarmed by the systematic removal of faith from public life and education. They would remind us that while they opposed government-established religion, they never intended to banish religious principles from civil discourse or education. Rather, they saw faith as essential to forming the character necessary for self-government.
At Noah Webster Academy, we honor this founding wisdom by placing biblical principles at the center of education. Through our Principle Approach®, students learn to recognize God's sovereignty in every subject—from science and mathematics to history and literature. Like the Founders, we understand that faith isn't merely a private matter but the foundation upon which character and citizenship must be built.
2. Preserve and Protect Our God-given Freedoms
If visiting America today, the Founders would marvel at technological innovations they could scarcely have imagined. Yet they would also recognize threats to liberty taking new forms in our modern age.
Thomas Jefferson, who wrote that "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time," would likely counsel vigilance against both government overreach and the tyranny of popular opinion. James Madison, architect of the Constitution, would remind us that liberty requires constant defense against the natural human tendency toward power consolidation.
The Founders understood liberty not as license but as ordered freedom—the ability to govern oneself according to enduring moral principles. They recognized that freedom detached from virtue inevitably descends into chaos or tyranny.
John Adams put it plainly: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." The Founders would likely be concerned by how frequently modern Americans invoke rights without acknowledging corresponding responsibilities.
They would counsel us to guard jealously those freedoms enshrined in our founding documents—freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to bear arms. But they would also emphasize that preserving these freedoms requires an educated citizenry who understands their origins and purposes.
At Noah Webster Academy, students don't merely memorize the Bill of Rights—they explore the philosophical and historical contexts that shaped these protections. Through our rigorous curriculum focused on traditional American values, students develop both the knowledge and character needed to preserve liberty for future generations.
3. Understand the Principles of Our Constitution
The Founders would likely be dismayed by modern Constitutional interpretations that too often depart from the document's original meaning and intent. They designed a remarkable system of government—with its separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism—not as abstract theory but as practical safeguards against concentrated power.
Alexander Hamilton, in Federalist No. 1, described the Constitution as establishing a government that would be "adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union." The Founders created not a perfect system, but one designed to harness human nature while protecting against its worst tendencies.
If here today, they would urge Americans to study and understand the Constitution as written and intended. They would counsel against viewing it as a "living document" that changes with the times, and instead emphasize its role as an enduring framework of governance based on timeless principles.
James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, would remind us that "knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." Constitutional literacy, he would argue, isn't merely for lawyers and politicians—it's essential for every citizen.
At Noah Webster Academy, Constitutional principles are woven throughout our curriculum. Students engage with primary sources, including the Federalist Papers and the Founders' own writings, to understand both the mechanics and philosophy of our government. Through activities like our Constitution Bee, they develop not just knowledge but a deep appreciation for the wisdom embodied in this extraordinary document.
Hope for America's Future
Despite the challenges facing America today, the Founders would counsel hope rather than despair. They themselves lived through darker times—a revolutionary war against the world's greatest power, the near-collapse of the confederation government, bitter political divisions in the early republic.
George Washington, who led the Continental Army through its darkest hours at Valley Forge, would remind us that America has weathered greater storms. Benjamin Franklin, who witnessed social and political upheaval throughout his long life, would counsel patience and persistence in the work of maintaining the republic.
The Founders would remind us that America's greatness has never been assured by fate or geography, but by the character and commitment of its citizens. They would point to moments throughout our history when Divine Providence seemed to intervene at critical junctures—from the miraculous victory at Yorktown to the remarkable assembly of extraordinary minds at the Constitutional Convention.
They would tell us that such providential assistance continues to be available to those who, like them, are willing to pledge "their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" to the cause of liberty. They would remind us that America's story isn't finished—that we too have been placed in our particular moment to preserve what they began.
Our Debt to the Founders
The price paid by our Founders—in sacrifice, risk, and dedication—creates a debt that each generation of Americans must repay. We honor this debt not through mere veneration of their memory, but through living commitment to the principles they established.
If here today, they would call us to maintain the same character of integrity, courage, and faith that sustained them. They would remind us that freedom is never free—that it must be earned anew by each generation through education, vigilance, and sometimes sacrifice.
John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: "I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy." Each generation makes sacrifices so the next may prosper. Our generation must now determine what sacrifices we will make to preserve liberty for our children and grandchildren.
The opportunity to be patriots once again is clearly upon us. The Founders would counsel us to find our unique contribution—whether through education, civic engagement, military service, or simply raising children with strong character and historical understanding.
At Noah Webster Academy, we view education as the essential foundation for preserving the American experiment. Through our Seven Pillars—Bible, Academics, Patriotism, Family, Community, Life Skills, and Physical Fitness—we prepare students not merely for college and career but for meaningful citizenship in a constitutional republic.
The Enduring Spirit of the Founders
The Founders weren't perfect. They had flaws and made mistakes, as all humans do. Yet as the poet John Greenleaf Whittier reminds us, they possessed a "manly spirit" of courage and conviction that each generation must reclaim.
If here today, they would ask us searching questions: Has the "old Pilgrim spirit" been "quenched within us"? Has "Mammon's lure" silenced our defense of liberty? When our "land to ruin's brink is verging," will we speak "while there is time"?
They would remind us that they too faced seemingly insurmountable challenges. They too were often viewed as idealistic or out of step with prevailing opinions. Yet they persevered, and in doing so, created the greatest experiment in self-government the world has ever known.
The Founders would tell us that America became the greatest and most powerful nation in the world not by accident, but through the courage and character of its people. The early Americans who built this nation were "the strong, fearless, and fiercely independent," united by "an unshakeable faith in themselves, in God, and in America."
That same spirit—of independence, resilience, faith, and patriotism—continues today at Noah Webster Academy. We believe, as the Founders did, that education rooted in biblical truth and traditional values is essential to preserving liberty for future generations.
As we face the challenges of our time, let us draw inspiration from those remarkable men who pledged everything to the cause of liberty. Let us study their words, emulate their character, and rededicate ourselves to the principles that made America exceptional. And let us remember that while "duty is ours, results are God's," as John Quincy Adams wisely observed.
The Founders are watching. Let us not disappoint them.
Noah Webster Academy of Las Vegas is dedicated to providing a well-rounded, Biblically-based, traditional-American education, as envisioned by our Founding Fathers. Our mission is to bring our students to the fullest expression of their individual value in Christ, and by so doing, restore the original character of our great American Republic. Learn more about our unique educational approach and how you can join our community by perusing noahwebsteracademylv.org.