What was the primary goal of the Reconstruction era?

The primary goal of the Reconstruction era was indeed to rebuild the South and integrate freed slaves into society. This period followed the Civil War and lasted from 1865 to 1877, focusing on the reintegration of Southern states into the Union and addressing the significant social, political, and economic challenges that arose as a result of the war.

One of the key objectives was to provide rights and opportunities to formerly enslaved individuals, ensuring their freedom was meaningful through measures like the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which aimed to secure citizenship, equal protection under the law, and voting rights for African Americans. Reconstruction also involved efforts to rebuild the Southern economy, which had been devastated by the war, and to change the infrastructure, societal norms, and political landscape of the region to accommodate the new reality of a society where slavery was abolished.

The other options, while relevant to American history, do not reflect the immediate and foundational aims of the Reconstruction era, which were specifically focused on addressing the consequences of the Civil War, particularly in relation to race relations and the reintegration of Southern states into the United States.