Reconstruction was a period in American history from 1865 to 1877, following the Civil War. Its main goal was to rebuild the Southern states and integrate formerly enslaved people into society. The U.S. government implemented various policies and amendments, such as the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to all born in the U.S. During Reconstruction, the federal government established the Freedmen's Bureau to assist newly freed individuals with education, employment, and legal issues. However, this era faced significant challenges, including resistance from Southern whites and the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan, leading to the eventual end of Reconstruction and the establishment of Jim Crow laws.