Student Question
What was the importance of the Morrill Act?
Quick answer:
The Morrill Act of 1862 was crucial in democratizing higher education in the U.S. by providing land grants for new colleges in western states, thus enabling access for farmers and the working class. It marked the first direct government support for higher education and shifted focus from classical arts to practical skills in agriculture and mechanics. This act laid the foundation for the current system of state colleges and universities nationwide.
The Morrill Act, first passed in 1862, provided land grants so that new western states could establish colleges, thus giving farmers and people of the working class access to higher education which they would not otherwise have been able to enjoy. The original institutions which were established focused largely on the fields of agriculture and the mechanical arts. The Morrill Act changed the face of higher education in two significant ways. It was the first time government became directly involved in the support of higher education. Also, whereas the focus of learning at the post-secondary school level had been concentrated on the classical arts, the land-grant schools allowed students to develop the practical skills they would need in the working world.
The current system of state colleges and universities found across the nation is a direct result of the trend begun with the type of government aid provided by the Morrill Act.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
References