Dartmouth University facts for kids

Dartmouth University was a university in New Hampshire that existed for only a short time, from 1817 to 1819. It was created because the state government tried to change Dartmouth College, which was a private school, into a public university. However, this attempt did not succeed, and the university quickly closed.

What Was Dartmouth University?

Dartmouth University was a brief experiment by the state of New Hampshire. It was set up by the state legislature, which is like the state's law-making body. Their goal was to take control of Dartmouth College and make it a public institution. This meant the state would run it, rather than a private group of trustees.

The Big Idea: Public vs. Private

To understand what happened, it helps to know the difference between a private college and a public university.

• A private college is usually run by a group of people called trustees. It often has its own rules and gets its money from donations, student tuition, and investments. It's independent from the government. Dartmouth College was founded in 1769 as a private institution.
• A public university is usually run and funded by the state government. It's meant to serve the public and is often supported by taxpayer money.

The New Hampshire legislature wanted to change Dartmouth College into a public university. They believed that education should be controlled by the state and serve the public more directly.

A Legal Battle Begins

The trustees of Dartmouth College did not agree with the state's plan. They believed that the college's original charter, which was like its founding contract, protected it from state interference. This disagreement led to a major legal battle.

The state passed laws in 1816 that changed the college's name to Dartmouth University and added new trustees who supported the state's control. The original college trustees refused to accept these changes. They sued William H. Woodward, who was a former secretary of the college and supported the state's new university.

The Supreme Court Decides

The case, known as Dartmouth College v. Woodward, went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. This was a very important case because it would decide how much power states had over private organizations.

In 1819, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, made its decision. The Court sided with Dartmouth College. They ruled that the college's original charter was a contract, and the U.S. Constitution protects contracts from being changed by states. This meant the state of New Hampshire could not simply take over Dartmouth College and change it into a public university.

What Happened Next?

Because of the Supreme Court's decision, Dartmouth University, which the state had tried to create, ceased to exist. Dartmouth College remained a private institution, just as it had been before. This ruling was very important for the future of private businesses and organizations in the United States, as it helped protect them from government interference.