Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Secretary of the Interior
In 1789, Congress created the first executive departments. They were the Departments of State, Treasury, and War. Each of these dealt with specific issues that affected our country. The attorney general and postmaster general jobs were created in the same year. The idea for a department to cover all domestic issues was mentioned. Nothing happened for many years. Finally, in 1849, Congress passed a bill to create the Department of the Interior. This department's job was to take care of the nation's internal affairs. Some called it the "Department of Everything Else."
From its early years, the Department of the Interior has had a wide range of responsibilities. It was in charge of building the water system in Washington, D.C. It led the exploration of land in the West. It regulated the governments of the territories. It managed hospitals, universities, public parks, .....
