The correct answer is A) Did the rebellious states ever become a separate nation.
Reconstruction is the era after the American Civil War. Considering the Confederacy's loss in the Civil War, the question became how would these rebellious states be received by the Union. In order to determine this process, the issue of whether or not the rebellious states were ever an independent nation cause significant problems. If these states were considered part of an independent sovereign nation, they would have to apply for statehood, get a state approved constitution, etc.
