In 1866, Ohio congressman and future president James Garfield championed the creation of a federal Department of Education to address high illiteracy levels among former slaves and an influx of European immigrants.

As part of the post-Civil War Reconstruction effort, Confederate states were required to guarantee education for all in their rewritten constitutions. The new federal agency would monitor and enforce compliance, notes a brief <a href="https://www.conference-board.org/pdfdownload.cfm?masterProductID=53950" target="_blank" class="article-hover-class">history</a> of the Department of Education published by the Conference Board think tank.

Seven presidents and trillions of dollars after its inception, the Trump administration has cut the agency in half and seeks to eliminate it.{ai:summary}<p>In 1866, Ohio congressman James Garfield advocated for a federal Department of Education to combat high illiteracy rates among former slaves and European immigrants. This initiative was part of the Reconstruction efforts, requiring Confederate states to ensure education in their new constitutions.</p><p>The proposed federal agency aimed to oversee and enforce educational compliance in these states. #education</p>

The Push to Abolish Education Department Goes Back Decades

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