Civil War and Reconstruction: The Embattled Freedmen’s Bureau

Civil War and Reconstruction:
The Embattled Freedmen’s Bureau
Thurs, Apr 16 • 10:30-11:30 am • Sanford
Thurs, Apr 23 • 10:15-11:30 am • Trailside

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Freedmen’s Bureau stood at the center of America’s attempt at interracial democracy. Created in 1865, the Bureau sought to provide relief, secure fair labor contracts, establish schools, and protect the civil rights of four million newly freed people across the South. Almost immediately, however, it found itself “embattled”—resisted by former Confederates, constrained by President Andrew Johnson, and stretched thin by limited resources and violent opposition.

This program will explore how the Freedmen’s Bureau attempted to help during the transition from slavery to freedom and why it became a flashpoint in the escalating struggle between Johnson and Congress – setting the stage for a constitutional showdown over the meaning of Reconstruction itself.

NOTE: Civil War lectures will alternate every other month with new lectures on Reconstruction.

Reserve your spot by calling 989-633-3700 or register online below.

Click the Register button below. This button will take you to the Self-Service Portal landing page where you’ll have the opportunity to Create an Account. If you have previously attended a Learn the Portal Session and already have an account set up, you can use the URL link in your Welcome email to access the Self-Service Portal directly. Thank you for your patience as we navigate our new online registration system.