The Morrill Acts were two significant pieces of legislation in the United States, enacted in 1862 and 1890. They aimed to promote higher education in agriculture and the mechanical arts by providing federal land to states. This land could be sold or used to fund colleges, leading to the establishment of many land-grant universities across the country. The first act focused on states in the Union, while the second act specifically addressed the needs of historically black colleges and universities. Together, these acts helped expand access to education and contributed to the development of a skilled workforce in the fields of agriculture and engineering.