What did the Reconstruction Acts aim to achieve during the post-Civil War era?

The Reconstruction Acts were primarily aimed at rebuilding the Southern states and ensuring the integration of formerly enslaved individuals into society following the Civil War. This series of laws, enacted starting in 1867, sought to restructure the political and social landscape of the South. They mandated the establishment of new state governments that were to be inclusive of African American participation and ensured that civil rights were protected.

Throughout this period, the U.S. federal government played a crucial role in overseeing the process of Reconstruction, which included the registration of Black voters and the establishment of schools and other institutions aimed at fostering economic and social opportunities for the formerly enslaved population. The underlying goal of the Reconstruction Acts was to create a more equitable society by providing legal and political rights to those who had been marginalized prior to the war.

In contrast, the other options presented do not reflect the objectives of the Reconstruction Acts. Re-arming former Confederate soldiers would run counter to the efforts of reconstruction and reconciliation, while enforcing the Black Codes would be supporting oppressive laws that limited the rights of African Americans rather than advancing their integration. Lastly, establishing new territories in the West does not relate to the goals of Reconstruction; that movement was primarily focused on addressing the aftermath of the Civil War in the Southern states.