The main purpose of the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War was to rebuild the United States, particularly the South, and to integrate formerly enslaved African Americans into society as free citizens with equal rights. Lasting from 1865 to 1877, this period aimed to restore the Union and address the profound social, economic, and political changes brought about by the war and the abolition of slavery. Reconstruction policies included the establishment of schools for African Americans, efforts to secure voting rights, and the implementation of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which sought to protect civil rights.