Carpetbagger: Difference between revisions

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==American usage==

In the [[United States]], the pejorative term '''carpetbagger''' was used to refer to a Northerner ([[Yankee]]s) who traveled to the South after the [[American Civil War]], through the late [[1860s]] and the [[1870s]], during [[Reconstruction]]. They went south to exploit the power vacuum created by the end of the [[American Civil War]] when the Confederate States (see: [[Confederate States of America]], [[U.S. Southern states]]) were placed under [[martial law]]. Since many Southern business and political leaders had been ousted from their positions as a result of the war, there was much personal gain to be found by travelling South, and many of these carpetbaggers became [[mayor]]s, [[governor]]s, and [[business]] leaders.

Carpetbaggers were so named after the habit of carrying belongings in a [[carpet bag]]. The carpet-bagging was commonly perceived by white Southerners as a threat to the status quo, and it was. The Southerners feared that along with the carpetbaggers will come racial equality and black rule.

Carpetbaggers were so named after the habit of carrying belongings in a [[carpet bag]]. The carpet-bagging was commonly perceived by white Southerners as a threat to the status quo, and it was. The Southerners feared that along with the carpetbaggers willwould come racial equality and black rule.

Yet most Carpetbaggers were in the Union army and had stayed in the South after the Civil War ended. They invested heavily into education and some worked for the [[Freedmen's Bureau]]. Carpetbaggers were highly educated and brought vital capital to the South, attempting to revive its economy. Carpetbaggers have historically had a negative reputation that tends to overshadow their positive contributions to the South.

Yet most Carpetbaggers werehad been in the Union army and had stayed in the South after the Civil War ended. They invested heavily into education and some worked for the [[Freedmen's Bureau]]. Carpetbaggers were highly educated and brought vital capital to the South, attempting to revive its economy. Carpetbaggers have historically had a negative reputation that tends to overshadow their positive contributions to the South.

''Carpetbaggers'' are not to be confused with ''[[scalawag]]s'', who were Republican sympathizers in the South during Reconstruction. However, both groups of people shared a vision for a new South, one that would overthrow the crippled plantation regime and replace it with a healthy industry. Other goals were to improve education, infrastructure, and roads, thus "reconstructing" the South.