Why Were Carpet Baggers Important

The term is commonly used in historical studies as a neutral descriptor of southern white republicans although some historians have dis.

Why were carpet baggers important.

During the reconstruction period 1865 77 to denote a northerner who moved to the south. Carpetbagger derogatory term originally used in the u s. 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. These white republicans are known by the contemptuous appellation of carpet bagger and scalawag.

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. 137 of the reconstruction era and the fragility of democracy. 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. This is handout 8 4 p.

With the support of the black vote some carpetbaggers played an important role in the republican state governments. Carpetbaggers generally supported measures aimed at democratizing and modernizing the south civil rights legislation aid to economic development the establishment of public school systems. 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. They were perceived as exploiting the local populace.

The opponents of the scalawags claimed they were disloyal to traditional values. Facts about carpetbaggers 1. The elected carpetbaggers in the congress. 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.

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. During the reconstruction era there were 60 carpetbaggers elected in the congress. In general cases the carpetbaggers supported the modernizing and democratizing the south. Like the similar term carpetbagger the word has a long history of use as a slur in southern partisan debates.

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.