American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission
Encyclopedia
The American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission was charged by U.S. Secretary of War
Edwin McMasters Stanton in March 1863 with investigating the status of the slaves and former slaves who were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation
. Stanton appointed Samuel Gridley Howe
, James McKaye, and Robert Dale Owen
as commissioners, all three of whom served from the creation of the committee in 1863 through to their submission of its final report in May 1864. These committees traveled south and interviewed former slaves and Union field commanders to get a better grasp of what the situation in the South was. The Commission helped with the transition of African Americans from a life of slavery to a free life. The Commission used Federal money to establish schools and churches in the South in an attempt to employ and educate former slaves. The Commission's mission was successful, and the bill's life was extended in Congress in January 1866.
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
Edwin McMasters Stanton in March 1863 with investigating the status of the slaves and former slaves who were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
. Stanton appointed Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe was a nineteenth century United States physician, abolitionist, and an advocate of education for the blind.-Early life and education:...
, James McKaye, and Robert Dale Owen
Robert Dale Owen
Robert Dale Owen was a longtime exponent in his adopted United States of the socialist doctrines of his father, Robert Owen, as well as a politician in the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
as commissioners, all three of whom served from the creation of the committee in 1863 through to their submission of its final report in May 1864. These committees traveled south and interviewed former slaves and Union field commanders to get a better grasp of what the situation in the South was. The Commission helped with the transition of African Americans from a life of slavery to a free life. The Commission used Federal money to establish schools and churches in the South in an attempt to employ and educate former slaves. The Commission's mission was successful, and the bill's life was extended in Congress in January 1866.