What year was the Morrill Land Grant Act established?

The Morrill Land Grant Act was established in 1862 and is significant in American agricultural education. This act provided federal land to states to fund the establishment of colleges focused on agriculture and mechanical arts. The goal was to promote higher education and make it accessible to a broader segment of the population, thereby enhancing the agricultural sector and supporting rural development. The act laid the foundation for the land-grant college system, which has had a lasting impact on agricultural research, extension services, and education throughout the United States. The success of this initiative can still be seen today in institutions such as Texas A&M University, which originated from this act. Other years mentioned in the choices correspond to additional pieces of legislation related to land grants but do not describe the original act.