* Reintegrate the Confederate states into the Union: This included restoring their representation in Congress, granting amnesty to former Confederates, and readmitting them to the Union after ratifying the 14th and 15th Amendments.
* Ensure the civil rights of the newly freed slaves: The 13th Amendment ended slavery, but additional measures were needed to protect the rights of former slaves and ensure their equal treatment under the law. This included passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the 14th and 15th Amendments.
* Rebuild the war-torn South: The Civil War had devastated the Southern economy and infrastructure. Reconstruction efforts focused on rebuilding schools, roads, and other essential infrastructure, as well as providing assistance to former slaves and destitute white Southerners.
* Reform the federal government: Reconstruction also led to reforms in the federal government, such as the creation of the Freedmen's Bureau to help former slaves and the establishment of the Department of Justice to enforce federal laws.
* Punish the Confederacy and Confederate leaders: This was a goal of the Radical Republicans, who sought to limit the political power of former Confederates and hold them accountable for the Civil War. Several Confederate leaders were indicted for treason, and some were temporarily barred from holding public office.