A land-grant university is a type of institution that was established by the United States government under the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. These universities were created with the intention of providing education in agriculture, engineering, and other practical fields. In addition, land-grant universities were required to offer military training and promote research in their respective fields. Synonyms for the term "land-grant university" include "agricultural college," "technical college," and "polytechnic university." Each of these terms is used to describe a type of institution that focuses on practical education and research in fields that are essential to national development and progress.