Middle School
Worksheets
Daniel Webster - The Great Orator
Daniel Webster
Reading Comprehension for January 18
Do you have a fear of public speaking? You're not the only one. Daniel Webster was afraid to speak in public. He wrote wonderful speeches, but in his younger years, he froze in front of an audience. In time, he overcame this fear and became a great orator. Some of Webster's speeches have gone down in history as the greatest ever delivered.
Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, on January 18, 1782. His family lived on a small farm where they raised livestock and grew their own food. The land had been given to Daniel's father, Ebenezer, for his service in the French and Indian War. Daniel was born in a special time in American history. Just six years before his birth, the United States declared its independence from England. Ebenezer was a strong patriot who remained involved in politics throughout his life. He was even involved in New Hampshire's campaign to ratify the U. S. Constitution.
The Constitution played an important role in Daniel Webster's life. As a young boy, his father shared the principles of this document with his son. Daniel desired to have his own copy so that he could read it for himself. This was difficult to do in the eighteenth century because books and published documents were not widely available. However, after much searching, Daniel found a copy written on a handkerchief in a small store. He purchased it and began to memorize the text.
