Significance_Of_U.S._Science_In_The_1870’s

Significance Of U.S. Science In The 1870’s Science in the United States prior to the Civil War was straggling to rise more than a few feet off the ground. Lacking positive support and participation, the few scientific organizations that were established failed to conform to newer thinking styles. With new scientific leaders, holding powerful positions and the Civil War now over, science in the United States grew vastly. A new epoch in science had arrived. 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 under scrutiny. With the backing of Congress, Henry was able to lift the limits on membership and recruit younger, fresher members. By removing the limit of members, science, scientific, war, survey, smithsonian, expeditions, civil, united, states, new, henry, scientists, now, geological, able, yet, without, surveys, spencer, national, museum, military, membership, major, governmental, fields, created, after, academy, while, wheeler, under, support, successful, success, study