Question

In march 1865, the us congress created the bureau of refugees, freedmen, and abandoned lands to aid african americans undergoing the transition from slavery to freedom in the aftermath of the civil war (1861–65). the freedmen's bureau, as it was more commonly known, was the first organization of its kind, a federal agency established solely for the purpose of social welfare. –"freedmen’s bureau," edward a. hatfield which statement best summarizes why the freedmen’s bureau was formed?

a) The Freedmen's Bureau was formed to provide aid for formerly enslaved people.
b) The Freedmen's Bureau was formed to farm land once held by slaveholders.
c) The Freedmen's Bureau was formed to offer social assistance during the Civil War.
d) The Freedmen's Bureau was formed to help enslaved workers escape to freedom.

Answer 1

The Freedmen's Bureau was established to aid African Americans transitioning from slavery to freedom by providing support such as food, clothing, education, and assistance in establishing new lives post-Civil War. It signified a shift towards greater federal involvement in Reconstruction. The correct answer is option a.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Freedmen's Bureau, formally known as the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, was established in March 1865 by the United States Congress. Its creation was pivotal in assisting African Americans to transition from slavery to freedom following the Civil War. As an unprecedented federal social welfare agency, it focused on providing aid, such as food, clothing, and fuel, securing land, running schools, reuniting families, and facilitating labor contracts. Despite confrontations with President Johnson and the South's White population, the Freedmen's Bureau marked a significant extension of federal power and carried the implicit promise of government support for African Americans and Unionists to establish new lives in a reconstructed South.

The primary goals of the Freedmen's Bureau were to provide critical support to former slaves, including various measures to facilitate their societal integration as free citizens. The Bureau engaged in numerous initiatives, such as distributing basic necessities, promoting education, and supporting the establishment of institutions like Fisk University, Hampton University, and Dillard University. This federal agency was reflection of a shift in policy to a more centralized federal government involvement in the Reconstruction.

The correct option that best summarizes why the Freedmen's Bureau was formed is: a) The Freedmen's Bureau was formed to provide aid for formerly enslaved people.