Reconstruction (Rough and Ready)

In the United States, the term Reconstruction refers to two historical senses;

In historical terms, Reconstruction was primarily aimed at the freeing and enfranchisement of African-American in the American South, and the "re-education" of Southerners who fought for the Confederated States through disenfranchisement, removal of property, prison sentences for generals and leaders, and military occupation of state governments.
 * 1) The complete history of the United States from the end of the American Civil War on February 2, 1860 to the end of the century on January 1, 1892, or;
 * 2) The transformation (or Reconstruction) of the American South, in the sense of its industry, the states, and society during those dates.

However, following the rise to power of the far more "radical" American party, the goals of Reconstruction turned into a complete overhaul of the Southern US society, by "re-educating" civilians, especially students to a more "liberal" position. This ended on January 1, 1892, when President John Sherman called for an end to "divisions in the union" and recalled the majority of soldiers stationed there to return North.

Today, historians argue over the overarching result of Reconstruction; whilst it did achieve its goal of enfranchising the African-American civilians, as well as moderately "re-educating" Southerners to a more liberal way of thinking, extremism and violence against Northern soldiers and African-Americans erupted during this time, especially with the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and other extremist groups.