Question

Using evidence from your reading, explain in 1–2 sentences how the work of the Freedmen’s Bureau created positive change for freedmen, while politicians simultaneously worked to oppress them.

Answer 1

The Freedmen's Bureau played a crucial role in creating positive change for freedmen by providing support in education, healthcare, and labor negotiations, helping many newly freed individuals transition to stability and autonomy. However, despite these advancements, many politicians actively implemented Black Codes and other discriminatory policies to undermine these gains, reflecting a simultaneous effort to suppress the rights and freedoms of African Americans in the post-Civil War era.