The primary focus of the Reconstruction period after the Civil War was to rebuild the Southern states and integrate formerly enslaved individuals into American society as free citizens. This era, spanning from 1865 to 1877, included efforts to restore Southern economies and infrastructure while implementing policies aimed at granting civil rights to African Americans. Key legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Amendments, sought to establish legal protections for Black citizens. However, the period was marked by significant political and social tensions, leading to the eventual emergence of Jim Crow laws and systemic racial discrimination.