The Freedmen's Bureau was created by Congress in March 1865 to assist and protect newly freed African Americans after the Civil War. Its main goals were to provide education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for former slaves and to ensure their civil rights were protected. The bureau was led by a commissioner who appointed agents to oversee its operations in different regions. It established schools, hospitals, and orphanages, and helped negotiate labor contracts between freedmen and former slave owners. Despite facing significant challenges and opposition, the Freedmen's Bureau played a crucial role in empowering and supporting African Americans during the Reconstruction era.
