Freedmen's Bureau

in American history, a branch of the war department in existence from March 3, 1865, until 1870. It was established by Congress to have general charge of the interests of the negroes of the Southern States. Part of the work of the bureau consisted in assigning former slaves allotments of confiscated or abandoned lands. It also engaged in the establishment of schools for the education of colored people. Something over $15,000,000 of government funds was expended through the bureau. See Contraband