What was freedmen's bereau?

Answer 1

The Freedmen's Bureau, was a U.S. federal government agency that aided distressed freedmen (freed slaves) in 1865-1869, during the Reconstruction era of the United States.

The Freedmen's Bureau Bill, which created the Freedmen's Bureau, was initiated by President Abraham Lincoln and was intended to last for one year after the end of the Civil War. It was passed on March 3, 1865, by Congress to aid former slaves through legal food and housing, oversight, education, health care, and employment contracts with private landowners. It became a key agency during Reconstruction, assisting freedmen (freed ex-slaves) in the South. The Bureau was part of the United States Department of War. Headed by Union Army General Oliver O. Howard, the Bureau was operational from 1865 to 1871. It was disbanded under President Ulysses S. Grant.

At the end of the war, the Bureau's main role was providing emergency food, housing, and medical aid to refugees, though it also helped reunite families. Later, it focused its work on helping the freedmen adjust to their conditions of freedom. Its main job was setting up work opportunities and supervising labor contracts. It soon became, in effect, a military court that handled legal issues. By 1866, it was attacked by Southern whites for organizing blacks against their former masters. Although some of their subordinate agents were unscrupulous or incompetent, the majority of local Bureau agents were hindered in carrying out their duties by the opposition of former Confederates, the lack of a military presence to enforce their authority, and an excessive amount of paperwork.[1]

It also had many problems. including resentful southerners attacking the bureau as an example of northern interference in the south[2] also, it had stationed 900 agents.[3]

President Andrew Johnson vetoed a bill for an increase of power of the Bureau, supported by Radical Republicans, on February 19, 1866.

Answer 2

The Freedmen's Bureau was a government agency to help aid the freed slaves. They were to last for one year after the civil war. The Freemen's Bureau Bill was initiated by President Abraham Lincoln. It was passed on March 3, 1865, by Congress to aid former slaves through legal food and housing, oversight, education, health care, and employment contracts with private landowners. At the end of the war, the Bureau's main role was providing emergency food, housing, and medical aid to refugees, though it also helped reunite families. Later, it focused its work on helping the freedmen adjust to their conditions of freedom. Its main job was setting up work opportunities and supervising labor contracts. The Bureau distributed 15 million rations of food to African Americans. They also provided education for the freed slaves, and helped them learn to read and write. Because of the Freedmen's Bureau, many slaves start their lives and live a good life after the war.