Justin Smith Morrill (1810-1898) is the Vermont senator credited for the legislation that led to the establishment of land-grant colleges and universities. Morrill first introduced the bill in 1857 only to have it vetoed by President James Buchanan in 1859. Then in 1861 under a different presidential administration, Morrill introduced another land-grant bill that would grant 30,000 acres to each senator and representative with an added twist. The new bill required that military tactics be taught to enhance America's armed forces in lieu of the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into law on July 2, 1862 and the rest is history.
Essentially, the 1862 land-grant legislation made it possible for each state to receive federal funds to establish a state college or university. These institutions would teach agriculture, military tactics, mechanical arts, home economics, and other traditional studies to working class citizens. The name "land-grant" was coined because the institutions were established with funds from the sale of land granted to each state by the federal government. [1] But there was one major problem: when the 1862 Morrill legislation was enacted, slavery still existed in the United States. It was rare for free blacks to attend Northern white colleges and such cases did not exist in the South. During an uncertain climate, President Lincoln declared slaves free in warring territories only on January 1, 1863. That meant that many African-Americans remained enslaved well after the Emancipation Proclamation, including the one million residing in Union territories. [2]
At the close of the Civil War in 1865, it was still considered a criminal offense to educate blacks in the South and many blacks were prohibited from attending colleges or universities established under the 1862 Morrill Act. In addition, the Black Codes of 1865 were enforced to limit the freedom and restrict the legal and civil rights of ex-slaves awarded to them under the 14th Amendment, particularly in regard to labor, owning or selling property, and marriage. The Black Codes were suspended one year later by federal authorities.
Given the social and political climate of the 1860s, the federal government was unable to secure cooperation from Southern states and therefore sought to pass the Morrill Act of 1890 to support black educational institutions. Ironically, in order for states to receive 1890 funding, race or color could not be a factor in regard to admission or the state had to designate a separate land-grant college for African-Americans.
Black educational institutions faced tremendous challenges during the 1890s. Approximately 90% of African-Americans lived in the South and at least 84% of them were farmers, overseers, sharecroppers, or employed in domestic jobs. Furthermore, the historical lawsuit Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that established the "separate but equal policy" in the United States reinforced the state's rights to establish separate but equal land-grant schools for blacks and whites. As expected, separate institutions only fueled the fires of segregation and gave rise to the Jim Crow laws that imposed racial segregation from the Reconstruction era to the 1960s. The separate but equal policy came under tremendous fire over the years as black institutions sought to receive fairness in regard to funding and programs. Yet, in spite of adversity, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue to thrive.
Today, there are 18 black land-grant colleges and universities in the United States, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. HBCUs continue to successfully reach underserved populations and produce the greatest number of degrees awarded to African-Americans in this country. Recognizing their importance, President George W. Bush established the President's Board of Advisors on HBCUs earlier this year. The Board is required to prepare a yearly report on the participation of black colleges and universities in federal programs. In addition, the group will make recommendations on how to increase the role of the private sector to strengthen these institutions. Particular emphasis will be placed on planning and development, financial management and stability, and improving infrastructures, including the use of technology. Such measures will go to insure that HBCUs remain a vital part of our nation's history and educational system.
Footnotes
References
Anderson, James D. (1999-2000). Colleges and universities historically black, in the United States, Africana.com, Inc. Retrieved June 3 2002, from http://www.africana.com/Articles/tt_259.htm.
Johnston, Chris. The 1890 Morrill land-grant college act and the African-American civil rights movement. Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Morrison, Richard D. (1994). History of Alabama A&M University 1875-1992 (pp. 30-47). Huntsville, AL: Golden Rule Printers.
Museum of Science and Industry, Black creativity 2001: Interactives, Retrieved May 28 2002, from http://www.msichicago.org/temp_exhibit/bc2001/bc_interactive.html.
Public Broadcast Service. Africans in America: the civil war, Retrieved May 28, 2002, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4narr5.html.
The black codes of 1865, Retrieved June 6 2002, from http://www.afroamhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa121900a.htm.
The Council of 1890 Presidents/Chancellors. (June 2002). 1890 land-grant system: A strategic plan. Washington, DC: The Council of 1890 Presidents/Chancellors.