Tax Supported Education In today’s society, we do not think twice about public education being funded by our taxes at a district, state or federal level. We take for granted expected rights such as education and the right to vote. When we stop and take a look back at history, we realize that the expectation of education was not always a birth right but one that developed due to our ancestors realizing the effect an education (or lack of an education) can have on society. The involvement of Government supported schools began after the Revolution but expanded in the 19th century. By 1870, all states had free elementary schools. Originally, the tax supported schools were limited and existed chiefly to educate the children of the poor (Kennedy, Cohen & Bailey, 2013). The founders of our nation recognized that educated, well-informed citizens are fundamental to a democratic form of government. Well-to-do, conservative Americans came to realize that uneducated children grow up and influence society with their vote. Taxation for education was an insurance premium that the wealthy paid for stability and democracy” (Kennedy, Cohen & Bailey, 2013). The United States was also different in the fact that our citizens were not from the same background. Unlike citizens in other countries, who shared the same ethnic background or culture, Americans would need to base their national identity on shared ideas such as a belief in democracy and equality and on the common experience. As early as the mid-1800’s, the federal government began to take steps to prepare citizens for the workforce and expand their opportunities for study or training. As states began to produce public colleges, the federal government encouraged the establishments through programs such as the Morrill Act of 1862. This provided grants of federal land available to states to establish