Founding of the Freedmen’s Bureau Who was involved.
The founding of the Freedmen's Bureau, officially known as the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, involved several key individuals.
1. President Abraham Lincoln: President Lincoln signed the legislation that created the Freedmen's Bureau on March 3, 1865, just weeks before his assassination. He believed that the federal government had a responsibility to protect and provide assistance to the newly emancipated African Americans.
2. General Oliver O. Howard: General Howard was appointed as the first Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau. He was a Union Army general during the Civil War and played a crucial role in organizing and implementing the Bureau's activities.
3. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton: As the Secretary of War during Lincoln's administration, Stanton played a significant role in the establishment and support of the Freedmen's Bureau. He worked closely with General Howard to ensure the Bureau's success.
4. Congress: The legislative branch of the United States government was involved in the founding of the Freedmen's Bureau. The Bureau was created through the passage of the Freedmen's Bureau Act, which was sponsored by Senator Lyman Trumbull and Representative James Mitchell Ashley. Congressional support was crucial for the Bureau's establishment and continued funding.
5. Freedmen and African American community leaders: The Freedmen's Bureau was established primarily to assist and protect the newly freed African Americans. Therefore, the involvement and cooperation of various African American leaders and community activists were essential in defining the Bureau's goals and implementing its programs.
Overall, a combination of political leaders, military officials, and African American community representatives was involved in the founding of the Freedmen's Bureau.