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What was the original mission of the secret service when created by congress in 1865?

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Final answer:

The Secret Service was originally created by Congress in 1865 to suppress counterfeit currency, a significant issue after the Civil War. It wasn't until 1901 that they took on the role of presidential protection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The original mission of the Secret Service when it was created by Congress in 1865 was not what many people associate it with today. Initially, the Secret Service had the primary responsibility of suppressing counterfeit currency. At the time, the end of the Civil War had led to the rampant circulation of counterfeit bills, which threatened to undermine the United States economy. The Secret Service was established as part of the Department of the Treasury to combat this issue. It was only in 1901, after the assassination of President William McKinley, that the Secret Service was additionally tasked with the responsibility of presidential protection.

User Robowahoo
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Answer: The United States Secret Service, one of the nation's oldest federal investigative law enforcement agencies, was founded in 1865 as a branch of the U.S. Treasury Department. It was originally created to combat the counterfeiting of U.S. currency - a serious problem at the time. The United States Secret Service (USSS or Secret Service) is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security charged with conducting criminal investigations and protecting U.S. political leaders, their families, and visiting heads of state or government.

Step-by-step explanation:

User ATrubka
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