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==History and Mission==

==History==

 

With some 17,000 [[Puritans]] migrating to New England by 1620, Harvard was founded by ministers who realized the need for training clergy for the new commonwealth, a "church in the wilderness."  it was named for John Harvard, its first benefactor. It received its corporate charter in 1650 and became a university in 1780.

With some 17,000 [[Puritans]] migrating to New England by 1620, Harvard was founded by ministers who realized the need for training clergy for the new commonwealth, a "church in the wilderness."  it was named for John Harvard, its first benefactor. It received its corporate charter in 1650 and became a university in 1780.

Systematic theological instruction was inaugurated in 1721 and by 1827 Harvard became a nucleus of theological teaching in New England.<ref>http://www.reference.com/browse/Harvard</ref>

Systematic theological instruction was inaugurated in 1721 and by 1827 Harvard became a nucleus of theological teaching in New England.<ref>http://www.reference.com/browse/Harvard</ref>

The departure of Increase Mather from the presidency in 1701 marked the beginning of a long term struggle between orthodoxy and liberalism.  Harvard's first secular president was John Leverett, who began his term in 1708.  Leverett left the curriculum largely intact and sought to keep the College independent of the overwhelming influence of any single sect <ref>[http://www.president.harvard.edu/history/07_leverett.php John Leverett - History - Office of the President]</ref>. The takeover of Harvard by the [[Unitarians]] in 1805 resulted in the secularization of the American college. By 1850 Harvard was the "Unitarian Vatican." <ref>[http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0100_Christianity_in_U.S..html A Brief History of Christian Influence in U.S. Colleges]</ref>  

The departure of Increase Mather from the presidency in 1701 marked the beginning of a long term struggle between orthodoxy and liberalism.  Harvard's first secular president was John Leverett, who began his term in 1708.  Leverett left the curriculum largely intact and sought to keep the College independent of the overwhelming influence of any single sect <ref>[http://www.president.harvard.edu/history/07_leverett.php John Leverett - History - Office of the President]</ref>.  

 

The takeover of Harvard by the [[Unitarians]] in 1805 resulted in the secularization of the American college. By 1850 Harvard was the "Unitarian Vatican." The "liberals" (Unitarians) allied themselves with [[Federalist Party|high Federalists]] and began to create a set of private societies and institutions meant to shore up their cultural and political authority, a movement that prefigured the emergence of the Boston Brahmin class. On the other hand, the theological conservatives used print media to argue for the maintenance of open debate and democratic governance through a diverse public sphere, seeing the liberals' movement as an attempt to create a cultural oligarchy in opposition to Congregationalist tradition and republican political principles.<ref>Neil Brody Miller, "'Proper Subjects for Public Inquiry': the First Unitarian Controversy and the Transformation of Federalist Print Culture," ''Early American Literature'' 2008 43(1): 101-135; [http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0100_Christianity_in_U.S..html A Brief History of Christian Influence in U.S. Colleges]</ref>  

Radical changes in educational scope and growth were in seen during the 40 year reign of Harvard president Charles W. Eliot (1869-1909).

Radical changes in educational scope and growth were in seen during the 40 year reign of Harvard president Charles W. Eliot (1869-1909).

Harvard alumnus and author Ross Douthat attributed this problem partly to socioeconomic differences, and noted that "Harvard students are creatively lazy, gifted at working smarter rather than harder", being brilliant largely in their tactics "to achieve a maximal GPA in return for minimal effort."  Few people who have taught at Harvard agree with Douthat's notions.<ref>Ross Douthat, "The Truth About Harvard," ''The Atlantic Monthly'' March 2005 ; adapted from his book, ''Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class''</ref>

Harvard alumnus and author Ross Douthat attributed this problem partly to socioeconomic differences, and noted that "Harvard students are creatively lazy, gifted at working smarter rather than harder", being brilliant largely in their tactics "to achieve a maximal GPA in return for minimal effort."  Few people who have taught at Harvard agree with Douthat's notions.<ref>Ross Douthat, "The Truth About Harvard," ''The Atlantic Monthly'' March 2005 ; adapted from his book, ''Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class''</ref>

 

==References==

==References==

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