Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Kathryn K. Franklin

Abstract

The Morrill Act of 1862, a land grant act, was instrumental in establishing an affordable system of colleges and universities. These institutions established under the act were schools that included the teaching of scientific agriculture and mechanical arts. This act was passed after a struggle with opposition led by the agricultural states of the South. After the secession of these states from the Union, Congress was finally able to pass this act, and it was signed into law July 2, 1862. This study categorized and explored the reasons why the southern agricultural states were so adamantly opposed to an act that would prove to be beneficial to them. These categories included financial, states' rights, fairness to all states, and some miscellaneous reasons. The study also explored various theories that have been advanced as to other reasons why the South may have opposed the act. One such prominent theory is a lack of interest in education among Southerners. Evidence uncovered in this study shows that Southerners actually had a great interest in education, and convincing proof is offered to substantiate this. Drawing upon speeches and voting behavior of southern congressmen from the time of the founding of this nation and the speeches and voting behavior of northern and western Democrats, the evidence presented in this study seems to show that the opposition to the Morrill Act and to similar legislation was not as representative of Southerners as it was of Democrats, and of Southern Democrats in particular.

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