Educational

• The Morrill Acts in 1862 and 1890 granted each state 30,000 acres of federal land for every congressman it had. The land was then sold to private interests and the proceeds were used to fund the construction of universities across the nation.
  
  

Development

• In 1862, the federal government awarded extensive lands to the Union Pacific Railroad company to facilitate the construction of railroads and promote development throughout the west. Smaller sections of land were also granted to settlers, provided they made significant improvements to it during the initial five-year period.
  
  

Conservation

• Federal lands also have been granted in an effort to conserve wildlife and natural resources. In 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund was established to work with state agencies and local communities to create and maintain parks throughout the country.