The Freedmen's Bureau was created in 1865 during the Lincoln administration, by an act of Congress called the Freedman's Bureau Bill. It was passed on March 3, 1865, in order to aid former slaves through food and housing, oversight, education, health care, and employment contracts with private landowners. A follow-up Freedmen's Bureau Bill was vetoed by
U.S. President Andrew Johnson on February 19, 1866, and Congress failed to override that veto on the following day. On May 29, 1866, the House passed a further Freedmen's Bureau Bill, and on June 26, 1866, the Senate passed an amended version. On July 3, 1866, both chambers passed a conference committee's compromise version. On July 16, 1866, Congress received another presidential veto message, which Congress overrode later that day. This congressional action extended the Freedmen's Bureau, increased antipathy between President Johnson and
Radical Republicans in Congress, and was a major factor during
Reconstruction. but a couple weeks later decided to limit its functions to processing claims and supporting education. Four years later, in June 1872, Congress voted to completely shut down the Freedmen's Bureau by the end of that month. ==See also==