how did the freedmen's bureau affect the lives of both african americans and whites during reconstruction?
The Freedmen's Bureau attempted to bring significant changes to the lives of African Americans and whites, however, few were effective and even less were long lasting.
Purpose
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, more commonly known as the Freedmen’s Bureau, was established in 1865 by Congress in order to help Southern African Americans and whites make the transition from slavery to freedom. After passing the Freedmen’s Bureau Act, the Bureau was tasked with “the supervision and management of all abandoned lands, and the control of all subjects relating to refugees and freedmen” (Freedmen’s Bureau Act of 1865).
In the aftermath of the Civil War (1861-65), the South was left in ruins. The war had destroyed the Southern economy, ravaged the cities and towns of the South, and killed thousands of Southern soldiers. After the surrender of the Confederacy, the Freedmen’s Bureau set to work aiding former slaves and poor whites with food and housing, oversight, education, health care, and employment contracts with private landowners.
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, more commonly known as the Freedmen’s Bureau, was established in 1865 by Congress in order to help Southern African Americans and whites make the transition from slavery to freedom. After passing the Freedmen’s Bureau Act, the Bureau was tasked with “the supervision and management of all abandoned lands, and the control of all subjects relating to refugees and freedmen” (Freedmen’s Bureau Act of 1865).
In the aftermath of the Civil War (1861-65), the South was left in ruins. The war had destroyed the Southern economy, ravaged the cities and towns of the South, and killed thousands of Southern soldiers. After the surrender of the Confederacy, the Freedmen’s Bureau set to work aiding former slaves and poor whites with food and housing, oversight, education, health care, and employment contracts with private landowners.