Final answer:
Friedrich Froebel, with a Moravian connection, contributed to Early Childhood Education (ECE) by developing the concept of kindergarten and advocating for play-based learning, forming a foundational impact on early education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The influencer on American Early Childhood Education (ECE) with a Moravian connection is Friedrich Froebel, who developed the concept of kindergarten and emphasized play-based learning as a crucial aspect of early education. Froebel's approach was grounded in the belief that young children learn best through play and that this early education forms the foundation for future learning. His innovative idea of creating a structured environment where children could be nurtured and educated according to their developmental stage has had a lasting impact on early childhood education practices around the world.