CONTENTS A LETTER FROM DUCHESS 4 CHAPTER ONE Rebuilding the South 6 CHAPTER TWO Reconstruction Begins 14 CHAPTER THREE The Bureau’s Early Work 22 CHAPTER FOUR Hospitals and Schools 30 CHAPTER FIVE The Bureau’s Legacy 36 Fast Facts 42 Stop and Think 44 Glossary 45 Online Resources 46 Learn More 46 About the Authors 47 Index 48
A LETTER FROM DUCHESS Duchess Harris After the Civil War ended in 1865 enslaved people were freed They needed support and aid in this transition period The Freedmen’s Bureau was created for this purpose The bureau is credited with helping formerly enslaved Black people set up schools and churches in the South It also gave Black people supplies and medical aid A freedom that many people take for granted is the freedom to live with family During the period of slavery enslaved people had been separated from their family members The bureau reunited formerly enslaved people with their families But some people think it did not do enough to help Black people The bureau did not have enough resources to provide aid to everyone It faced a lot of opposition in the South I hope this book helps you think about what is needed to reconstruct a community Join me on this journey to learn about the Freedmen’s Bureau and its legacy
Freedmen’s Bureau workers spoke to freed slaves throughout the South
