The document discusses the goals of Reconstruction after the Civil War. It lists potential goals such as reunifying the nation peacefully, punishing political leaders and soldiers of the Confederacy, rebuilding the ruined Southern economy, and protecting the rights and providing compensation to freed slaves. Quotes from Abraham Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, and Ulysses S. Grant provide different perspectives on these goals, with Lincoln focusing on reunification, Stevens arguing for harsh punishment of Confederates, and Grant prioritizing the interests of freed slaves.