The Morrill Act, 1862

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Signed into law on 2 July, 1862 by the then President Abraham Lincoln, the Morrill Act was a significant boost to higher education. The Morrill Act, which is also known as the Land Grant Act, was sponsored by Justin Smith Morrill, the congressman for Vermont. The Act gave each state 30,000 acres to provide institutions of higher learning that would educate people on mechanical arts, home economics, agriculture and other professions practical at the time. The states were to dispose of the land and then us the proceeds to fund the public colleges. The following is an excerpt from the Acton how the land was to be appropriated. The land was to be sold at one dollar and twenty five cents per acre. The money would then be invested in stocks of the state, the United States or other stocks with a yield of not less than five percent of the par value. The interest from these stocks would be used to support and maintain at least one educational institution. There were some conditions attached to the grant of the land. The first was that if any part of the interest on the land were lost or diminished, the state would replace it. The second was that the funds would not be used to erect or repair any buildings. Also, any state granted the grant would provide at least one college within five years, the failure of which the land and any interest therein would revert to the central government. Every year a report on the progress of each college was to be made. States under rebellion or insurrection against the central government would not benefit from the grants. The latter condition was as a result of the civil war raging at the time. Governors were also expected to provide an annual report on all sales and appropriations of the proceeds. The conditions were to ensure that the Act met its purpose. Many of these conditions were not met, and the Act was marred with scandals. Many
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