Prior to the Civil War, the National Academy of Sciences hung from a precarious cliff with failing membership and lack of governmental interest. When Joseph Henry took over the presidency in 1867, his goal was to bring back the academy and reinvent it into a useful institution. First, Joseph Henry worked to get rid of Benjamin Siliman. Siliman was a key figure in the scientific of revolution in the early 1800’s but was known to be a pursuer of profit in regards to science. Many believed he was a shame to modern science, and while his disbarment was not successful, the issue of membership requirements came u

U.S. science was solidified after the Civil War into permanent institutions with federal funding. Science now had standard guidelines to follow and allowed the pursuit of science to continue with efficiency. The United States was now ready to start a new era pf organized scientific participation and unity.

The Smithsonian was another institute that branch in the tree of U.S. science that received a facelift after the Civil War. The Smithsonian was owned jointly between the government and privately. The Smithsonian was supposed to be a support for scientists without strings, and yet that could not be realized without some sort of governmental dependence. With the building of Spencer Baird’s National Museum, the Smithsonian’s funds were being drained at an enormous rate. Spencer tried to detach the museum for the Smithsonian Institute without great success. In the end, the museum was built with the funds of Congress and the upkeep was generated by private donations, allowing the Smithsonian to be free of governme

Some topics in this essay:
Civil War, George Wheeler, Clarence King, John Powell, Academy Science, Siliman Siliman, Congress Henry, Smithsonian Institute, War Smithsonian, Spencer Baird, civil war, henry able, prior civil war, civilian scientists, smithsonian institute, national academy, geological survey, hayden looked, prior civil, major expeditions, science united,