- Reunification: The need to reunite the country, both physically and emotionally, after the war.
- Reconstruction: The need to rebuild the South, which had been devastated by the war, and to help former slaves transition to freedom and citizenship.
- Abolishing Slavery: The need to ensure that slavery was abolished and that African Americans were granted full citizenship and equal rights.
- Protecting Freedmen: The need to protect the rights of freed slaves and to prevent them from being subjected to violence and discrimination.
Economic Recovery: The need to rebuild the economy, which had been disrupted by the war, and to create jobs for returning soldiers and former slaves.
- Social Reform: The need to address the social and political issues that had contributed to the war, such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination against African Americans.
- Constitutional Amendments: The need to amend the Constitution to ensure that the rights of all Americans were protected and that slavery was abolished.
- Political Reconstruction: The need to rebuild the political system in the South, which had been controlled by the Confederacy, and to ensure that all citizens, regardless of race, had the right to vote and to participate in government.
- Legal Issues: The need to address legal issues related to the war, such as the question of treason and the rights of former Confederate soldiers.
- Amnesty and Reconciliation: The need to grant amnesty to former Confederates and to promote reconciliation between the North and the South.