What was the main goal of the Freedmen's Bureau established in 1865?

The primary goal of the Freedmen's Bureau, established in 1865, was to aid freed slaves in the South. Following the Civil War, the Bureau was created to assist the newly emancipated African Americans in their transition from slavery to freedom. This included providing essential services such as food, housing, education, and medical care. The Bureau aimed to help former slaves secure employment and negotiate labor contracts, ensuring they had the resources and support needed to thrive in a society that was still heavily prejudiced against them.

The importance of this initiative lies in its attempt to provide a systematic approach to address the immense challenges faced by freed individuals as they navigated their new reality. As they sought to integrate into a society that had been deeply divided by slavery, the assistance from the Freedmen's Bureau was crucial in helping them establish a foothold in their communities.

While there were aspects of land distribution and governmental oversight tied to the Bureau, its main purpose was fundamentally centered on offering direct aid and support to former slaves to facilitate their transition into free citizens with rights and opportunities.