History of Higher Education in America
Major College Events
Founding of Harvard College
1636Founding of Harvard College
Founding of William and Mary to supply Anglican clergymen for the Crown colony
1693Founding of William and Mary to supply Anglican clergymen for the Crown colony
Founding of Yale
1701Founding of Yale
Flogging was banned from colleges
1718Flogging was banned from colleges
American Philosophical Society formed by Benjamin Franklin
1743American Philosophical Society formed by Benjamin Franklin
Chartering of Princeton
1746Chartering of Princeton
College of New Jersey opened
1746College of New Jersey opened
Yale requires Westminister Confession of faith
1748Yale requires Westminister Confession of faith
King's College (later Columbia) was founded by Anglicans
1754King's College (later Columbia) was founded by Anglicans
College of Rhode Island at Providence started by Baptists
1764College of Rhode Island at Providence started by Baptists
Queens College (later Rutgers) Founded by Dutch Reformers
1764Queens College (later Rutgers) Founded by Dutch Reformers
Physical discipline was omitted from college laws
1767Physical discipline was omitted from college laws
Dartmouth College Founded
1769Dartmouth College Founded
Largest graduating class from Harvard before the American Revolution
1771Largest graduating class from Harvard before the American Revolution
Princeton was occupied by British troops during the Revolutionary War
1776Princeton was occupied by British troops during the Revolutionary War
Princeton attacked by American troops in January
1777Princeton attacked by American troops in January
Princeton Nassau Hall converted to a military hospital
1777Princeton Nassau Hall converted to a military hospital
University of Georgia founded; first state charter
1785University of Georgia founded; first state charter
Georgetown University founded; first Catholic college
1789Georgetown University founded; first Catholic college
The College Movement
1795 - 1904US Military Academy at West Point was founded
1802First federally supported institution of higher education
First women's college in the US is chartered in Georgia
1836First women's college in the US is chartered in Georgia
First Co-Ed College (Oberlin College) is Founded
1837University of Michigan and the US Naval Academy are established
1845University of Michigan and the US Naval Academy are established
Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 (First Morrill Act) - Signed on July 2, 1862
1862Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 (First Morrill Act) - Signed on July 2, 1862
The 13th Amendement, abolishing slavery, is passed
1865The 13th Amendement, abolishing slavery, is passed
The 14th Amendment: equal protection under the law
1866The 14th Amendment: equal protection under the law
The Department of Education is established
1867The Department of Education is established
First College Football Game
1869Rutgers vs. Princeton
Hatch Act of 1887 is passed
1887Hatch Act was related to the First Morrill Act
Morrill Land Grant Act of 1890 (Second Morrill Act)
1890Morrill Land Grant Act of 1890 (Second Morrill Act)
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is founded
1905The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is founded
The Smith-Lever Act is established
1914The Smith-Lever Act is established
The first SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is given
1926The first SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is given
The G.I. Bill is passed
1944The G.I. Bill is passed
President's Commission on Higher Education
1946President's Commission on Higher Education
Brown v. Board of Education
1950National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
1958National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
The first ACT test is administered
1959The first ACT test is administered
The Higher Education Act (HEA)
1965The Higher Education Act (HEA)
Title IX
1972Title IX
The Rehabilitation Act
1973The Rehabilitation Act
The Equal Educational Opportunities Act is passed to prohibit discrimination
1974The Equal Educational Opportunities Act is passed to prohibit discrimination
University of Phoenix: first institution to offer online college degrees
1989University of Phoenix: first institution to offer online college degrees
The Higher Education Act (HEA) is amended and reauthorized
1998The Higher Education Act (HEA) is amended and reauthorized
The HEA is amended and reauthorized and expanded
2003The HEA is amended and reauthorized and expanded
Virginia Tech shooting - 33 students were killed this day
2007Virginia Tech shooting - 33 students were killed this day
Major US Events
French and Indian War began
1754French and Indian War began
Revolutionary War
1775 - 1783Revolutionary War
Declaration of Independence was signed
1776Declarations of Independence was signed
Articles of Confederation was signed
1778Articles of Confederation was signed
The US Constitution is passed
1788The US Constitution is passed
The Bill of Rights is passed
1791Nation's capitol relocated to Washington, DC from Philadelphia
1797War of 1812
1812 - 1815Civil War
1861 - 1865President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation
1863The Civil Rights Act is passed
1875The Civil Rights Act is passed
The Spanish American War
1889World War I
1917 - 1918World War I
Women are given the right to vote
1920The Great Depression
1929 - 1939US involved in World War II
1941 - 1945Civil Rights Act of 1957
1957The Civil Rights Act becomes law
1964Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon.
2001September 11, 2001