Morrill Act

Definition

The Morrill Act was a significant piece of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1862 that provided federal land grants to states for the establishment of public colleges and universities, with a focus on instruction in agriculture, mechanical arts, and military tactics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Morrill Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, reflecting the government's commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting the development of the nation's agricultural and industrial sectors.
2. The act provided each state with 30,000 acres of federal land for each member of Congress, which the states could then sell to raise funds for the establishment and operation of public colleges and universities.
3. The Morrill Act helped to democratize higher education by making it more accessible to the general public, rather than just the elite, and fostered the growth of land-grant colleges and universities across the country.
4. The curriculum at land-grant institutions focused on practical, applied fields such as agriculture, engineering, and military science, in contrast to the traditional liberal arts education offered at many private colleges and universities.
5. The Morrill Act played a significant role in the development of the American West, as the land-grant colleges and universities established under the act helped to promote the settlement and economic growth of the region through their focus on agricultural and industrial education.

Review Questions

• Explain the key provisions and goals of the Morrill Act.
  • The Morrill Act of 1862 provided federal land grants to states for the establishment of public colleges and universities, with a focus on instruction in agriculture, mechanical arts, and military tactics. The goal of the act was to democratize higher education and support the development of the nation's agricultural and industrial sectors, particularly in the American West, by making practical, applied education more accessible to the general public.
• Describe the impact of the Morrill Act on the growth and development of higher education in the United States.
  • The Morrill Act played a crucial role in the expansion and diversification of higher education in the United States. By providing federal land grants to states for the establishment of public colleges and universities, the act helped to make higher education more accessible to the general public, rather than just the elite. The land-grant institutions that were created under the act focused on practical, applied fields such as agriculture, engineering, and military science, in contrast to the traditional liberal arts education offered at many private colleges and universities. This shift in the focus of higher education had a significant impact on the development of the American West, as the land-grant colleges and universities helped to promote the settlement and economic growth of the region through their emphasis on agricultural and industrial education.
• Analyze the relationship between the Morrill Act, the Homestead Act, and the Transcontinental Railroad in the context of the westward expansion and development of the United States.
  • The Morrill Act, the Homestead Act, and the Transcontinental Railroad were all important factors in the westward expansion and development of the United States in the 19th century. The Morrill Act provided federal land grants to states for the establishment of public colleges and universities, many of which were located in the American West and focused on agricultural and industrial education to support the settlement and economic growth of the region. The Homestead Act, passed in the same year as the Morrill Act, encouraged westward migration by offering free land to settlers, while the Transcontinental Railroad facilitated the transportation of people, goods, and resources across the country. Together, these policies and initiatives played a crucial role in the settlement and economic development of the American West, transforming the region from a vast, largely uninhabited frontier into a thriving, productive part of the nation.

Related terms

Land-Grant Colleges: Colleges and universities established under the Morrill Act, which received federal land grants to provide higher education opportunities, particularly in fields related to agriculture and engineering.

Homestead Act: A U.S. federal law passed in 1862 that provided settlers with 160 acres of public land upon payment of a small registration fee, encouraging westward expansion and the settlement of the American frontier.

Transcontinental Railroad: A railroad line that connected the eastern and western United States, facilitating the transportation of people, goods, and resources across the country and supporting the growth of the American West.