Morrill Land Grant Act Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Morrill Land Grant Act?

The Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 was a landmark act of Congress that established land grant colleges in the United States. It was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on July 2, 1862. The act allowed federal funds to be used to purchase public lands and then sell those lands at discounted prices to states in order to finance the establishment of institutions for agricultural and mechanical arts education. This type of education became known as the land-grant college model and is still present today. The idea for this act came from Senator Justin Smith Morrill from Vermont who had long advocated for educational reform and economic development through agriculture, industry, science, and technology. He believed that an educated citizenry would benefit society as a whole and wanted to make sure everyone had access to higher education regardless of their social class or race. In addition to providing federal funding for these new institutions, the Act also provided financial aid programs so students could attend them regardless of financial means. Since its enactment over 150 years ago, the Morrill Land Grant Act has had a profound impact on American higher education. It helped expand access to higher education across all social classes by providing public support for state universities and colleges specializing in agriculture, engineering, business disciplines, natural resources managementand eventually even veterinary medicinethat otherwise would have remained inaccessible due to their cost or lack thereof availability in certain areas. This expansion helped create one of the most inclusive higher educational systems in the world with many universities now offering courses tailored specifically towards different populations such as minorities or veterans making it easier for anyone with ambition can get a solid foundation for success no matter their background or resources available at any given time.