Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “American Agriculture History Minute”
The Missouri River: A Pillar of American Agriculture History Early Settlers and the Great Plains The Missouri River has played a pivotal role in shaping American agriculture and westward expansion. As Mark Oppold explains in an American Agriculture History Minute, early settlers who crossed the Mississippi River often found themselves facing the Missouri River as they entered the vast expanse …
The Morrill Act of 1862 and the Birth of Land-Grant Universities Land-grant universities have played a defining role in shaping American agriculture, research, and education. As Mark Oppold explains in this American Agriculture History Minute, these institutions were established largely through the landmark Morrill Act of 1862. The Act provided federal land to states, enabling them to fund colleges focused …
A Landmark in American Expansion In 1803, the United States completed one of the most important land acquisitions in history: the Louisiana Purchase. For just $15 million, approximately $18 per square mile, the U.S. acquired a vast territory from France. This purchase would not only expand the nation geographically but also profoundly impact the future of American agriculture. Over 530 …
A Pioneering Beginning During the Civil War Kansas State University—originally named Kansas State Agricultural College—was formally established on February 16, 1863, in Manhattan, Kansas. As described in Mark Oppold’s American Agriculture History Minute, its founding took place during the American Civil War, a period marked by national upheaval yet also visionary public investment in education. Despite the challenges of wartime, …
The Land-Grant Origins of Ohio State University: How a New College Was Chosen to Lead Ohio’s Future The founding of Ohio State University is a defining chapter in both Ohio’s educational history and the broader story of America’s land-grant movement. Born from the Morrill Act of 1862, the institution began as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College—a school designed to …
As settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains on their journey west, many expected to continue onward to the vast plains, California, or Oregon. But a significant number stopped well before reaching those destinations. Drawn by fertile soils, abundant water, and promising farmland, early pioneers found their home in what we now know as Ohio. Their arrival—combined with the long-established agricultural practices …
A National Moment in Agricultural Advancement In the mid-1800s, agriculture was the driving force of American life, shaping communities, economies, and national expansion. Recognizing the importance of strengthening agricultural knowledge and innovation, the Iowa General Assembly made a landmark decision in 1856: it enacted legislation to create the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. This initiative marked one of the …
A Landmark Innovation in American Agriculture In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold highlights a pivotal development in mid-19th century farming technology—the creation of the Deere & Mansur corn planter. As agriculture expanded across the United States, so did the need for more accurate and efficient planting equipment. This growing demand set the stage for an …
Expanding America’s Land-Grant Tradition Most land-grant universities Americans know today—such as Iowa State University and Kansas State University—trace their origins to the landmark Morrill Act of 1862. This legislation established a new model for public higher education, focused on practical instruction in agriculture, engineering, and the mechanical arts. Following the act, states across the nation founded colleges and universities that …
A Civil War–Era Beginning Kansas State University—initially named Kansas State Agricultural College—was founded on February 16, 1863, in Manhattan, Kansas. Remarkably, its establishment occurred during the American Civil War, a time when national conflict threatened the stability of institutions across the country. Yet Kansas leaders pressed forward, committed to building a university that would serve the new state’s educational and …
