On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in Washington D.C., inspired by the international Red Cross movement she encountered in Europe during the Franco-Prussian War. The organization was established to provide emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education in the United States. Under Barton’s leadership, the American Red Cross played a critical role in improving the humanitarian response to disasters and the treatment of wounded soldiers, setting a precedent for future national and international aid efforts.
