The Morrill Act was a significant piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress in 1862. It aimed to promote higher education in agriculture and the mechanical arts by providing federal land to states. Each state received land grants, which they could sell to fund the establishment of colleges focused on these subjects, leading to the creation of many land-grant universities. A second Morrill Act was enacted in 1890, which aimed to support historically black colleges and universities. This act ensured that states with racial segregation in higher education also received funding to establish institutions that would serve African American students, thus expanding educational opportunities across the nation.