What is the Morrill Act, you say? President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, July 2, 1862, creating the nation’s land-grant university system. The purpose of the Morrill Act was to provide federal lands to states to sell or develop, using the proceeds to fund colleges focused on agriculture, mechanical arts, and military tactics. This made higher education accessible to the general public.
In Texas, the Morrill Act was the law that established Texas A&M University, originally known as Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas.
The Second Morrill Act of 1890 expanded access further, designating Prairie View A&M University as a land-grant university.
Put your allegiances aside for one day and let’s celebrate 164 years of the nation’s land-grant colleges, who have educated millions of young adults.