Public Land Grants

Definition

Public land grants refer to the allocation of governmental-owned land to individuals or institutions for a specific purpose, such as education or development. In 1862, public land grants were used to support colleges specializing in agriculture and mechanics.

Related terms

Homestead Act: The Homestead Act was passed in 1862 and provided public land grants to encourage settlement in the western territories.

Morrill Act: The Morrill Act of 1862 granted public land to states for establishing colleges focused on agricultural and mechanical education.

Land Grant Universities: These are universities that received public land grants under various acts, such as the Morrill Act, with a focus on agricultural sciences and engineering.