помагите Какой был первый американский университет?

Гарвард — синоним номера один. Первый американский университет, самый престижный вуз Лиги Плюща, первый в рейтинге лучших учебных заведений мира.
Университет был основан в 1636 году в массачусетском селении, по иронии носящем название другого престижнейшего вуза — английского Кембриджа.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_university_in_the_United_States

First university in the United States is a status asserted by more than one U.S. university. In the U.S. there is no official definition of what entitles an institution to be considered a university versus a college, and the common understanding of "university" has evolved over time.

Claimants and potential claimants

(In alphabetical order by full institutional name)

Harvard University, founded in 1636, claims itself to be (v.i.) "the oldest institution of higher education in the United States". The claim of being "the first university" has been made on its behalf by others.

The University of Pennsylvania makes claim on their website of being "America's First University". The university has published a book about being the first university in America, and their website contains numerous instances of the phrase "America's First University."

The College of William and Mary's website states, "The College of William and Mary was the first college to become a university (1779).

ps: надеюсь, что перевод не нужен. . основный смысл в выделенном куске.

Народный, то есть- тюрьма. Её(америку) населяли беглые из Европы приступники.