In 1862, things were not going so well for the Union. There were big-time money problems, and they were losing a war to boot. General lee was kicking some serious butt[ Mind you, Stonewall jackson was doing most of the kick-ass job]. And this man by the name of Morrill--a republican from Vermont-- introduced a bill in the Congress. He said, "We're going to have land-grant universitites in this country--one for every state--to give American opportunities for training and learning."
And they said, "Man you must be crazy, we're in the middle of a civil war. Building new universities? what the hell are you thinking.?"
But he presisted and eventually, during this country's darkest hour, President lincoln defied everyone and supported the bill. The bill was passed and the President signed the Morrill Act into law on 2 July. I think we can all agree that congressman Morrill knew a good investment when he saw one. At that time, building those schools meant American workers can get an agricultural and technical education. This gave each state 30,000 acres of public land for each Senator and Representative. These numbers were based on the census of 1860. The land was then to be sold and the money from the sale of the land was to be put in an endowment fund which would provide support for the colleges in each of the states.
The land-grant has improved the lives of millions of Americans. This was not the case in the early stages. At the time the grants were established, there was a separation of races. In the South, blacks were not allowed to attend the original land-grant institutions. There was a provision for separate but equal facilities, but only Mississippi and Kentucky set up any such institution. This situation was rectified when the Second Morrill Act was passed and expanded the system of grants to include black institutions.
The Morrill Acts have become a major educational resource for our nation. This program is available to all people who are in search of higher education. Over the years it has proven to be an important part of our educational system. This Act changed the course of higher education. The purpose of education shifted from the classical studies and allowed for more applied studies that would prepare the students for the world that they would face once leaving the classroom. This Act also gave education support directly from the government. The Morrill Act changed the face of education and made room for our growing and ever changing country and ensured that there would always be money to finance educational facilities and that there would be continual government support of these institutions.
Today, land-grant colleges and universities--schools like Cornell, the University of Kentucky, MIT, Purdue, and the University of Vermont--count millions of Americans as their alums(Presidents, members of Congress, CEOs, and Noble Prize winners among them.)
The second Morrill act was signed in 1890.
from
*The land Grant tradition
*'We're Right they're wrong
U.S. Statutes at Large 12
And they said, "Man you must be crazy, we're in the middle of a civil war. Building new universities? what the hell are you thinking.?"
But he presisted and eventually, during this country's darkest hour, President lincoln defied everyone and supported the bill. The bill was passed and the President signed the Morrill Act into law on 2 July. I think we can all agree that congressman Morrill knew a good investment when he saw one. At that time, building those schools meant American workers can get an agricultural and technical education. This gave each state 30,000 acres of public land for each Senator and Representative. These numbers were based on the census of 1860. The land was then to be sold and the money from the sale of the land was to be put in an endowment fund which would provide support for the colleges in each of the states.
The land-grant has improved the lives of millions of Americans. This was not the case in the early stages. At the time the grants were established, there was a separation of races. In the South, blacks were not allowed to attend the original land-grant institutions. There was a provision for separate but equal facilities, but only Mississippi and Kentucky set up any such institution. This situation was rectified when the Second Morrill Act was passed and expanded the system of grants to include black institutions.
The Morrill Acts have become a major educational resource for our nation. This program is available to all people who are in search of higher education. Over the years it has proven to be an important part of our educational system. This Act changed the course of higher education. The purpose of education shifted from the classical studies and allowed for more applied studies that would prepare the students for the world that they would face once leaving the classroom. This Act also gave education support directly from the government. The Morrill Act changed the face of education and made room for our growing and ever changing country and ensured that there would always be money to finance educational facilities and that there would be continual government support of these institutions.
Today, land-grant colleges and universities--schools like Cornell, the University of Kentucky, MIT, Purdue, and the University of Vermont--count millions of Americans as their alums(Presidents, members of Congress, CEOs, and Noble Prize winners among them.)
The second Morrill act was signed in 1890.
from
*The land Grant tradition
*'We're Right they're wrong
U.S. Statutes at Large 12
