Lesson
Benjamin Rush (1745-1813)
How did Benjamin Rush contribute to social reform in his community and country? What were his goals for education, and what role did he play during and after the Revolutionary period?
Founding Principles
Learning objectives
Students will:
- explain Rush’s contributions to social reform in his community and country.
- compare the late eighteenth-century goals for education to modern philosophies.
- analyze Rush’s goals for education.
- evaluate modern educational theories and practices in terms of Rush’s ideas.
- appreciate the political roles Rush played during and after the Revolutionary period.
Materials
Student Handouts
- Handout A—Benjamin Rush (1745–1813)
- Handout B—Vocabulary and Context Questions
- Handout C—In His Own Words: Benjamin Rush on Education
- Handout D—Analysis: Contrasting Ideas of Education
Additional Teacher Resource
Lesson Components
Lesson plan
60 minClick a phase to open it
Standards
Advanced Placement
- CCE
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Rush was the most famous physician of his time. Known and respected by many of the Founding generation, Benjamin Rush treated illnesses such as yellow fever and smallpox, putting himself at great risk to do so.