In 1838, the United States received just over five hundred thousand dollars from Smithson's estate. However, the funds were tied up for eight years while Congress debated the best ways to use the money to spread knowledge. Finally, in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was officially founded. No one knows why Smithson, an Englishman who had never even visited America, left his fortune to the United States, but his gift would go on to have a tremendous impact.
Based on the text, why did it take so long for the U.S. to found the Smithsonian Institution after receiving the money to fund it?
There was not enough money to fully cover the cost of the Smithsonian Institution
People in the us government could not agree on how to use the Smithsonian’s money
Smithsonian’s nephew tried to prevent the Smithsonian Institution from being built
The us government could not find a suitable location for the Smithsonian Institution
1 answer
People in the US government could not agree on how to use the Smithsonian’s money