Establishment of a National University at the Center of a New Nation Usa

In his book Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C., Elmer L. Kayser (1953), professor emeritus of European history, focuses on the establishment of a national university at the center of a new nation, which is none other than the United States of America. In a time characterized by a deep interest in education and nationalism, Kayser stated that the idea of implementing a university in the “New World” (p. 223) was brought about by George Washington. This thought had been with him for a long time due to his wish to have an American university that could gather all the American youth and offer them the opportunity to study “great disciplines” (p. 223). However, Kayser pointed out that the national university establishment required the approval of Congress. Despite George Washington’s devotion and multiple attempts to raise the question anew, Congress had never taken any action. This lack of responsiveness leaded to, according to professor Kayser, a rising feeling of frustration on Washington’s part. Finally, the first move to the establishment of the university had been given by Luther Rice, an active member of the Baptist Church. Contrary to Washington, Rice’s desire of founding a university at the heart of the “New World” (p. 223) came from his willingness to establish a new Baptist college. This denominational character prevented the first charter from being approved by Congress, which advocates, according to the author, a complete separation from any religious institution and the State. Then, a second charter, ensuring that anyone could be able to be elected Trustee and, thus, safeguarding secularism within the university, had been drawn up. It is through this long and difficult process that an act creating “The Columbian College in The District of Columbia” (p. 227) had been signed on February 9th, 1821 by President James Monroe. In spite of all the stringencies met during its implementation, Washington’s bequest