From Turner To Morrill: A Research On The Origin And Development Of American Land-Grant College Act In 1862

American state university is an important part in the American higher education system nowadays. In the early stage of 19th century, some states have established their state universities, but the real development of state university followed Land-Grant College Act, which was passed in the congress and then signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. This act was the legal foundation of the development of American state university. However, this act met a lot of obstacles from its beginning to the end. Because of historical reason, these obstacles lose their securities. From the economic history of Charles Beard, this paper will explore how the act came to being, what issues representatives and senators debated, why the act could pass at last and the property of this act. The main body of this paper was composed of three chapters.The first chapter will study the process of the act origin. In the chapter, the writer will study the Turner's influences on Justin Morrill from theory of influence of Quentin Skinner and probability and practicability of influence. The writer holds the real origin of Land-Grant College Act was A Plan for a State University for the Industrial Class, which was presented by Turner in 1850.The second chapter will study the process of the act development. In the chapter, the writer will briefly study the legislative procedure in American congress at that time, and study the reasons why this act was passed by the congress and vetoed by President James Buchanan. The writer holds that there are three reasons. The first reason was the split of Democrat Party between southern and northern. The second reason was the alliance of eastern and western facing the issues of slavery expansion to the western lands. The last reason was the background of Democrat Party and the profound southern complex of President James Buchanan. The third chapter will study the process of the act pass. In this chapter, the writer will study the reason why the act was passed in the congress and then signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The writer holds that there are four reasons. The first reason was that some southern representative and senators, who used to reject this act, quit from the congress because of Civil War. The second reason was the alliance between eastern and western facing the issues of Country Unite. The third reason was the passage of Homestead Act. The last reason was the background of Republican Party of President Abraham Lincoln.