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Colledge of Henricus
Prior to the founding of Harvard College in 1636, America's first university was almost established in Henrico Town (or "Citie of Henricus") in 1618 in the area that is now known as Varina. This would have been the first university in America, and its purpose would have been to convert the Indians to Christianity through education. http://www.henricocitizen.com/index.php/news/article/americas_first_university_almost#.WUY1M2jyvIU -
Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School was the first school founded in America on April 23, 1635. It was founded by the Town of Boston to focus on the humanities and to teach its scholars dissent with responsibility.
http://www.bls.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=206116&type=d -
Harvard College
In 1636, Harvard College became the official first institution of higher education in the American colonies via the approval of 400 British pounds (the equivalent of $512.40 in today's currency) by the Great and General Court of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England for its establishment. It was named after John Harvard who was the college's first benefactor.
http://www.harvard.edu/about-harvard/harvard-glance/history/historical-facts -
Massachusetts Body of Liberties
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize slavery by passing the Massachusetts Body of Liberties in 1641. It was a legal code established by the European colonists in New England and stated, in part, "There shall never be any bond slavery, villeinage, or captivity amongst us unless it be lawful captives taken in just wars, and such strangers as willingly sell themselves or are sold to us..." Slaves were forbidden from learning to read or write.
http://www.constitution.org/bcp/mabodlib.htm -
Massachusetts Law of 1642
This law was actually not about the establishment of a school. Instead, it required the master and the parents of the children who apprenticed under him be responsible for making sure that the children could read and write so that, as citizens, they would be able to understand and abide by the laws of the land.
https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/masslaws.html -
Massachusetts Law of 1647
This law was also known as the Old Deluder Satan Act designed to keep Satan away from controlling the scriptures. A town that was comprised of 50 families was required to hire a schoolmaster to teach the children to read and write. In a town with 100 families, a grammar schoolmaster who would be able to prepare the children to attend Harvard College had to hired. This was the first compulsory education law in the American colonies designed to
https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/masslaws.html -
College of William and Mary
Although originally planned to established in 1618, the College of William and Mary was finally established February 8, 1693 in the Virginia Colony. Deemed the Alma Mater of the Nation because of its close ties to America's founding fathers, King William III and Queen Mary II of England chartered it to college that focused on Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences.
http://www.wm.edu/about/history/index.php -
Negro Act of 1740
This act came as a result of the Stono Rebellion (also known as
Cato's Conspiracy or Cato's Rebellion) which was led by a literate slave named Jemmy (also called "Cato"). This act made it illegal for slaves to assemble together, earn money to purchase items or their freedom, raise their own food, to be able to move abroad, and to learn to write English. This act also permitted slave owners to kill rebellious slaves if they deemed it necessary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stono_Rebellion -
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College received its charter on December 13, 1769 for purpose of teaching Native American youth to read and write in an effort to civilize and Christianize them.
https://www.mysticstamp.com/info/this-day-in-history-december-13-1769/ -
Bill 79, "A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge"
In this bill, Thomas Jefferson proposed creating a public school system that would be funded by taxes for 3 years and would afford all the free children, male and female to attend school during those 3 years. However, the children could attend longer if their parents, friends, or family could pay for it independently.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-02-02-0132-0004-0079
