What was the primary focus of the Reconstruction Era in the United States?

The primary focus of the Reconstruction Era in the United States was to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into society. Following the Civil War, the nation faced the significant challenge of reintegrating the Southern states and addressing the consequences of slavery. This period, which lasted from approximately 1865 to 1877, aimed to restore the Union and redefine the status of African Americans.

Key objectives included addressing the legal and social implications of emancipation, implementing new laws that granted civil rights to formerly enslaved individuals, and establishing systems for education and labor that would promote their integration into mainstream society. Efforts such as the establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau exemplified these goals, providing assistance in areas such as education, healthcare, and labor negotiations for freed slaves.

The other options reflect different historical contexts or objectives. Expanding westward relates to the idea of Manifest Destiny and occurred in a different timeframe, while promoting industrialization became a more explicit aim during the Gilded Age that followed Reconstruction. The New Deal was a 20th-century initiative aiming to address the Great Depression and is not connected to the Reconstruction Era's goals or challenges.