Introduction
It is undeniable that slavery has had and continues to have a significant impact on the society of the United States of America. Since the days of its inception in America, slavery and its legitimacy have been questioned and challenged, resulting in the Civil War. One of the consequences of the Civil War was the establishment of Freedmen’s Burau.
The organization’s official name was The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. The bureau’s mission lay supervising properties confiscated or abandoned during the Civil War and supporting formerly enslaved people adjusting to their new life. The hard work put into helping former slaves be self-sufficient and indisputable achievements in this field prove the significance of the organization’s work in America.
History
The origins of the Burau are rooted in the need to supervise the territories left unattended during the Civil War and manage refugees who needed support in the post-war times. Before the establishment of the Freemen’s Burau, these duties were a part of the Treasury Department and military commanders’ responsibility. The head of the organization, Union General Oliver Otis Howard, was appointed by President Andrew Johnson in May of 1865, a month after the Civil War ended.
The newly established organization was under the wing of the War Department (“The Freedmen’s Burau,” n.d). The headquarters were in Washington, DC; however, the organization’s members performed their duties in the District of Columbia, border states, and previously Confederate states. The bureau was dismissed in 1872, but most of its impactful work was done from June 1865 to December 1868.
Impact
Impact on the Present
The Freedmen’s Burau significantly impacted formerly enslaved people during the critical years after the Civil War. Furthermore, it continues to affect American society’s historical and sociological aspects due to its abounded archives of formerly enslaved people’s experiences. In my opinion, in today’s day and age, it is essential to have a solid and tangible connection to history. This helps avoid making the same mistakes as the people of the past.
Personal Impact
In the years after the war, many people lost their family members, homes, savings, and incomes. The effectiveness of the bureau’s work was indisputable as thousands upon thousands of formerly enslaved people and poor white people were provided support by it. Due to the bureau’s work, freed people were to find missing members of their families.
In addition, the organization helped legalize marriages since, previously, marriages between enslaved people were illegal (“The Freedmen’s Burau,” n.d). From personal experience, I know that the freedom to be with the one person you love is the source of great empowerment that can carry you through the most challenging times. This proves that the organization aimed to help formerly enslaved people significantly.
Financial Impact
Furthermore, the bureau helped formerly enslaved people establish schools, buy land, and provide people in need with various necessities, such as clothes and food. In addition, it operated hospitals and temporary residences and oversaw labor contracts between formerly enslaved people and employers (“The Freedmen’s Burau,” n.d). Due to racism and funding limitations, the organization was forced to close. Without the bureau, the position of formerly enslaved people was a precarious one, with former enslavers continuing to take advantage of them, but in the form of legal employment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Freedmen’s Burau had a critical mission and was highly effective in helping people recover from the disparities of the war and adjust to their new positions. I believe it provided people with various forms of support and still holds incredible importance for American society. Unfortunately, the prevalence of racism and lack of funding put an end to the crucial work of this vital organization.
Reference
The Freedmen’s Bureau (n.d). Web.