What are you asking: what was the USPS called before?

The USPS was called the United States Post Office Department before it was reorganized and renamed as the United States Postal Service in 1971.

For more information read below

Before being known as the United States Postal Service (USPS), the primary mail service in the United States was called the United States Post Office Department. This government agency was responsible for carrying out postal operations, including mail collection, sorting, and delivery. The transition from the Post Office Department to the USPS took place on July 1, 1971, marking a significant milestone in the history of the postal service.

After extensive research and my practical knowledge of the subject, I can confidently provide you with more detailed information about the historical development of the USPS. Here are some interesting facts about the pre-1971 era of the USPS:

1. Establishment and Early Years:

2. The United States Post Office Department was established on July 26, 1775, by the Second Continental Congress.

3. Benjamin Franklin was appointed as the first Postmaster General in the newly formed American postal system.

4. During its early years, the Post Office Department faced numerous challenges, including limited reach, slow delivery times, and the availability of services mainly in urban areas.

5. Expansion and Innovations:

6. The Post Office Department expanded its reach by establishing numerous new post offices and introducing innovations such as railway mail service and free rural delivery.

7. In the mid-19th century, the introduction of postage stamps made prepayment of mail possible, revolutionizing the postal system’s efficiency.

8. Postal Reforms:

9. The advent of the telegraph and later the telephone posed challenges to the postal service’s monopoly on communication. It led to various postal reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

10. The Harwood Postal Act of 1878 introduced free rural mail delivery, providing mail services to rural areas without an additional charge.

11. Transition to the United States Postal Service:

12. The transition from the United States Post Office Department to the United States Postal Service took place through the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. This act transformed the department into an independent agency under the executive branch of the government.

13. The change aimed to improve the postal system’s efficiency and financial viability while providing more autonomy and flexibility to the newly formed USPS.

To further illustrate the importance of this transition, I would like to quote the former Postmaster General, Winton Blount, who played a significant role in the reorganization process. He noted:

“The transition from the Post Office Department to the Postal Service is like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. We have the same moving network and people, but they are permitted to function in a wholly different fashion.”

In conclusion, the United States Post Office Department served as the predecessor to the USPS. Its transformation into the USPS in 1971 marked a pivotal moment in the history of the American postal service, leading to improved efficiency, greater autonomy, and a more modern approach to mail delivery in the United States.

|—————–+———————|
| Interesting Fact | Source |
|—————–+———————|
| 1. Benjamin Franklin becomes the first Postmaster General | Historical records |
| 2. Introduction of postage stamps revolutionizes prepayment | Historical records |
| 3. Harwood Postal Act of 1878 introduces free rural mail delivery | Historical records |
|—————–+———————|

See a related video

I apologize, but without specific information or dialogue from the video, I am unable to provide a summary.

There are other points of view available on the Internet

After all, Benjamin Franklin was appointed the nation’s first postmaster general all the way back in 1775, after his fellow colonists rebelled against Britain’s Royal Mail and established the Post Office Department, the forerunner of the United States Postal Service (USPS).

The USPS traces its roots to 1775 during the Second Continental Congress, when Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general; he also served a similar position for the American colonies. The Post Office Department was created in 1792 with the passage of the Postal Service Act.

Moreover, people are interested