Transformation Of The Functions Of The Civil War To World War Ii On The Eve Of The American Research University

The period from the civil war to the World War Ⅱ eve is the period during which American higher education experienced a deep transformation. It is just during this period that based on English college pattern, imitating German pattern and combining American practice, the American characteristic higher education system began to have its preliminary form. The goal of higher education has changed from the past single free education, that is, mainly emphasizing the development of generalists, to clinging to the training of all kinds of personnel from associate to Ph.D in each discipline; from only to transmit present knowledge to explore new knowledge and use it to advance the development of the society. The functions of higher education have also changed— not only to teach something but also to wage some scientific research work and to serve the society. Therefore, there is significant meaning for this period in the long process of American higher education development.What the author tries to explore here are as follows: How did the functions of university change in the specific time and space of America from the civil war to the World War Ⅱ, Is the scientific research in American universities academic dominated or society need dominated, How are the problems as well as contradictions emerging in this process solved, etc. These problems are not only the theory problems bewildering the higher education academic circle for a long time but also the problems in higher educational practice needing solving urgently. Thus to know history about this period has not little significance to know the changes of today's university function.Encircled the central theme of 'the functional change of American Research University from the civil war to the World War Ⅱ eve', the paper wages its research. The paper is composed of three parts. The first part explains the functional transformation process of American Research University within the historical view. The functional transformation for American Research University from pure teaching to scientific research compatible can approximately be divided into the following twostages: primary stage and establishment stage; the functional transformation for American Research University from pure teaching to scientific research and society serving compatible can approximately be divided into the following three stages: primary establishment and perfection. It also does some analysis on the problems or contradictions incurred in the transformation process, gives some corresponding countermeasure, and generalizes the characteristics of the transformation. The next part analyzes the factors which lead to the transformation centering the following two aspects, that is, macro structure and micro structure. The third part emphasizes the relationship among university, government and society and thus points out the role of the relationship in the functional transformation.