Why Were Carpet Baggers Important

The term carpetbagger was used by opponents of reconstruction the period from 1865 to 1877 when the southern states that seceded were reorganized as part of the union to describe northerners who.

Why were carpet baggers important.

Although regarded as transients because of the carpetbags in which they carried their possessions hence the name carpetbaggers most intended to settle in the south some in support of the radical republican reconstruction program others to take advantage of speculative and commercial opportunities there. Alexander white a white congressman from alabama describes the role that carpetbaggers and scalawags played in reconstruction politics. With the support of the black vote some carpetbaggers played an important role in the republican state governments. In the history of the united states carpetbagger was a derogatory term applied by former confederates to any person from the northern united states who came to the southern states after the american civil war.

Most carpetbaggers probably combine the desire for personal gain with a commitment to taking part in an effort to substitute the civilization of freedom for that of slavery. In united states history the term scalawag referred to white southerners who supported reconstruction policies and efforts after the conclusion of the american civil war. The opponents of the scalawags claimed they were disloyal to traditional values. Carpetbagger derogatory term originally used in the u s.

137 of the reconstruction era and the fragility of democracy. During the reconstruction period 1865 77 to denote a northerner who moved to the south. It was applied to politicians and financial adventurers whom southerners accused of coming south to use the newly enfranchised freedmen to obtain office or profit. The elected carpetbaggers in the congress.

The term broadly included both individuals who sought to promote republican politics and individuals who saw business and political opportunities because of the chaotic state of the local economies following the war. Here are some interesting facts about carpetbagger for you. These white republicans are known by the contemptuous appellation of carpet bagger and scalawag. They were perceived as exploiting the local populace.

Like the similar term carpetbagger the word has a long history of use as a slur in southern partisan debates. Facts about carpetbaggers 1. This is handout 8 4 p. Though some carpetbaggers undoubtedly lived up to their reputation as corrupt opportunists many were motivated by a genuine desire for reform and concern for the civil and political rights of.

In general cases the carpetbaggers supported the modernizing and democratizing the south.