The American government and higher education: an analysis of the Morrill Act, GI Bill and political speeches of President Barack Obama

Abstract

This thesis examines the dominant discourse that perpetuates ideologies and behavior regarding higher education among Americans. The act of going to college has become a mandatory act in which students pursuing higher education seldom ask why they are going to college. I believe legislation such as the Morrill Act of 1862 and the GI Bill of 1944 have guaranteed that the union between the government and higher education will continue to influence political rhetoric and perpetuate the dominant discourse of higher education. This thesis explores the political rhetoric surrounding these acts and two of President Obama's speeches he addressed during his campaign for presidency and during his administration. The purpose of this analysis is to explore the historical contexts of these acts and current political speeches. Based on my analysis and research of these historic texts and speeches, I conclude that the American government's involvement in higher education has fostered a dominant discourse that has created an ideology that a college degree is defined more as a commodity or symbol of human capital, rather than a sign of intellectual accomplishment.