[27], A politician in South Carolina who was called a carpetbagger was Daniel Henry Chamberlain, a New Englander who had served as an officer of a predominantly black regiment of the United States Colored Troops. "Scalawags" were white Southerners who supported the Republican party, "carpetbaggers" were recent arrivals in the region from the North, and freedmen were freed slaves. [57][bettersourceneeded], A carpetbag steak or carpetbagger steak is an end cut of steak that is pocketed and stuffed with oysters, among other ingredients, such as mushrooms, blue cheese, and garlic. The term came to be associated with opportunism and exploitation by outsiders. The period of Reconstruction (1865-1877) began with a focus on putting the country back together again politically, economically, and physically. Carpetbaggers were able to buy property and businesses cheaply because southerners needed the money to pay Civil War debts; the Confederate States of America (CSA) had borrowed a great deal of money from citizens but could not pay any of it back. [6][7], 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". Fowler, Wilton B. [43], The term carpetbagger has also been applied to those who join the Labour Party but lack roots in the working class that the party was formed to represent. The Rail Splitter Repairing the Union, Joseph E. Baker, 1865. ", This was the origin of the term "carpet bag," and out of it grew the well known term "carpet-bag government. rally His election is notable because he was elected as a black Democrat during a campaign season notorious for white intimidation of black and Republican voters in black-majority eastern Arkansas. ", Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877, http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/tourgee/summary.html, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Looting the Mutuals: The Ethics and Economics of Demutualisation. 2019. C. Vietnam is split into several small states of different political structures We strive for accuracy and fairness. d [22], Albert T. Morgan, the Republican sheriff of Yazoo, Mississippi, received a brief flurry of national attention when insurgent white Democrats took over the county government and forced him to flee. [41][42][full citation needed] ", Blake J. Wintory, "African-American Legislators in the Arkansas General Assembly, 18681893. Which best describes the fate of the Freedmen's Bureau? Some scalawags were established planters (mostly in the Deep South) who thought that whites should recognize Blacks civil and political rights while still retaining control of political and economic life. For opponents of Reconstruction, scalawags were even lower on the scale of humanity than carpetbaggers, as they were viewed as traitors to the South. Updates? Foner notes that "joined with the quest for profit, however, was a reforming spirit, a vision of themselves as agents of sectional reconciliation and the South's "economic regeneration." When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. side-out. After returning to Ohio in February 1865, he joined the Forty-second Colored Infantry. He was appointed South Carolina's attorney general from 1868 to 1872 and was elected Republican governor from 1874 to 1877. Updated: August 21, 2018 | Original: June 24, 2010, During and immediately after the Civil War, many northerners headed to the southern states, driven by hopes of economic gain, a desire to work on behalf of the newly emancipated enslaved people or a combination of both. Scalawags were white Southerners who cooperated politically with black freedmen and Northern newcomers. Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. A carpetbagger is an individual that moved from the north to the south during the period of Reconstruction (1865-1877). You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. Whats the difference between a carpetbagger and a scalawag. A carpetbagger was an individual that moved from the north to the south during the period of Reconstruction (1865-1877). Reconstruction lasted from 1865 to 1877, during which the United States had to be politically, socially, and economically put back together. Though they differed in their views on racemany had strong anti-Black attitudesthese men wanted to keep the hated rebels from regaining power in the postwar South; they also sought to develop the regions economy and ensure the survival of its debt-ridden small farms. [citation needed], Corruption was a charge made by Democrats in North Carolina against the Republicans, notes the historian Paul Escott, "because its truth was apparent. All rights reserved. Today an individual that runs for political office in a region they are not normally from can be called a carpetbagger. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Which statement is true about Vietnam today? "Carpetbagger: Definition and Origin of the Political Term." Defeated Confederates, embittered by the loss of the war, deeply resented northerners. But "carpetbagger" did not merely mean someone who traveled and carried a carpetbag. He made eloquent speeches advocating that the plantations be broken up and distributed among the freedmen. Some were abolitionists who sought to continue the struggle for racial equality; they often became agents of the federal Freedmen's Bureau, which started operations in 1865 to assist the vast numbers of recently emancipated slaves. The post-war years in the south provided many Americans with an opportunity to benefit from the financial reconstruction of the south. In 1870, Northerners controlled 21% of the South's railroads (by mileage); 19% of the directors were from the North. He was the first-known black Democrat elected to the Arkansas General Assembly. Du Bois have noted that Democrats as well as Republicans received bribes and participated in decisions about the railroads. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. The word was first used in this context in early 1997 by the chief executive of the Woolwich Building Society, who announced the society's conversion with rules removing the most recent new savers' entitlement to potential windfalls and stated in a media interview, "I have no qualms about disenfranchising carpetbaggers. He also became a leader of the Exoduster movement. [citation needed]. According to Oliver Temple Perry in his 1912 book, "Notable men of Tennessee, from 1833 to 1875, Their Times and Their Contemporaries", Tennessee Secretary of State and Radical Republican Andrew J. Fletcher "was one of the first, if not the very first, in the State to denounce the hordes of greedy office-seekers who came from the North in the rear of the army in the closing days of the [U.S. Civil] War" within his June 1867 stump speech that he delivered across Tennessee for the re-election of the disabled Tennessee Governor William G. Brownlow: "No one more gladly welcomes the Northern man who comes in all sincerity to make a home here, and to become one of our people, than I, but for the adventurer and the office-seeker who comes among us with one dirty shirt and a pair of dirty socks, in an old rusty carpet bag, and before his washing is done becomes a candidate for office, I have no welcome. One of the primary problems the former Confederate States faced was the financial ruin the war had left them. W. B. Godbey, A.M.", God's Revivalist Office. The term carpetbagger was used by opponents of Reconstructionthe period from 1865 to 1877 when the Southern states that seceded were reorganized as part of the Unionto describe Northerners. For them the South was a kind of new frontier and a land of opportunity. Watch acclaimed Black History documentaries on HISTORY Vault. [38], George Thompson Ruby, an African American from New York City who grew up in Portland, Maine, worked as a teacher in New Orleans from 1864 until 1866 when he migrated to Texas. Many carpetbaggers were former Union soldiers, businessmen looking to start new businesses, or individuals working with the Freedman's Bureau. While some carpetbaggers supported African American equality and worked to protect their voting rights, others were motivated primarily by financial gain or political power. The majority of Republican governors in the South during Reconstruction were from the North.[2]. That legislation divided the South into five military districts and outlined how new state governments based on universal (male) suffragefor both whites and Blackswere to be organized. "[24] The historians Eric Foner and W. E. B. The dispute weakened both factions and the entire Republican Party, enabling the sweeping Democratic victory in the 1874 state elections.[33]. In the modern era, the term is used to describe someone running for election in a region in which they have no longstanding roots. a 29 chapters | In the congressional elections of 1866, northern voters rejected Johnsons view of Reconstruction and handed a major victory to the so-called Radical Republicans, who now took control of Reconstruction. He eventually became vice-chair of the Georgia Republican Party, a state senator and the head of an African-American militia which he hoped to use against the Ku Klux Klan. Working with the Freedman's Bureau, many northerners moved to the south to help reconstruction efforts by building schools. C. separation of powers As its most basic level, the name derived from luggage common at the time, which resembled bags made of carpeting. [25] General Milton S. Littlefield was dubbed the "Prince of Carpetbaggers", and bought votes in the legislature "to support grandiose and fraudulent railroad schemes". White Southerners commonly denounced "carpetbaggers" collectively during the post-war years, fearing they would loot and plunder the defeated South and be politically allied with the Radical Republicans. "[24], Escott notes that extravagance and corruption increased taxes and the costs of government in a state that had always favored low expenditure. My people have been told by these schemers, when men have been placed on the ticket who were notoriously corrupt and dishonest, that they must vote for them; that the salvation of the party depended upon it; that the man who scratched a ticket was not a Republican. the term carpetbagger was a nickname for brainly They included four men who had lived in the South before the war, two of whom had served in the Confederate States Army. All Rights Reserved. Who were the carpetbaggers and scalawags? - Daily Justnow c She has an undergraduate degree in History and English and a master's degree in Educational Leadership. After the war, southern states were required to be readmitted back into the Union. Carpetbaggers were northerners who headed south after the war; Scalawags were southerners. governments are given power by the people? A carpetbagger was portrayed as a lower-class schemer with little education who could carry everything he owned in a cheap carpet bag. [37], In 1878, Furbush was elected again to the Arkansas House. (Among other special features, they were painted a non-glossy black to make them less visible to searchlights.) For other uses, see. Industrial Workers of the World History & Goals | What is the IWW? 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 freed Blacks. In general, the southern state governments formed during this period of Reconstruction represented a coalition of African Americans, recently arrived northern whites (carpetbaggers) and southern white Republicans (scalawags). Only one state official and one justice of the state supreme court were Northerners. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. A. Vietnam is still divided into a communist north Vietnam and a democratic south Vietnam. Nation of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American Republic. These white paramilitary organizations, described as "the military arm of the Democratic Party", worked openly to violently overthrow Republican rule, using intimidation and assassination to turn Republicans out of office and suppress freedmen's voting. Furbush was originally elected as a Republican, but he switched to the Democratic Party at the end of his time as sheriff. Carpetbagger" was the name given to a person from the North who would move to the South in order to make money following the Civil War. Government Flashcards | Quizlet This is in reference to the taxes that are rung from the labouring class of people. African Americans and Reconstruction ( Quiz ) Flashcards the term carpetbagger was a nickname for brainly Posts Term was originally a very bitter insult leveled at northerners who ventured into the defeated South. Escott concludes that some Democrats were involved, but Republicans "bore the main responsibility for the issue of $28 million in state bonds for railroads and the accompanying corruption. Create your account. The term "carpetbaggers" refers to Northerners who moved to the South after the Civil War, during Reconstruction. Carpetbagger: Definition and Origin of the Political Term - ThoughtCo Who were the Carpetbaggers? Warmoth supported the franchise for freedmen. Carpetbaggers moved to southern states for economic, political, and social opportunities; Scalawags were politically motivated. Southern Newspaper Advertisement Warning Carpetbaggers, 1868. [37], Carpetbaggers were least numerous in Texas. Yes if you will give them a few Dollars they will liern you for an accomplished Rascal. [citation needed], Following the end of his 1873 legislative term, Furbush was appointed as county sheriff by Republican Governor Elisha Baxter. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. b Northerners who came to the South and supported African American equality. Beginning in 1867, they formed a coalition with carpetbaggers (one-sixth of the electorate) and scalawags (one-fifth) to gain control of southern state legislatures for the Republican Party. During his term, he adopted a policy of "fusion", a post-Reconstruction power-sharing compromise between Populist Democrats and Republicans. The bitter Civil War in the United States left the country physically destroyed. Who were carpetbaggers quizlet? - AnswersAll After the war, Furbush migrated to Liberia through the American Colonization Society, where he continued to work as a photographer. Northerners who moved to the South after the Civil War, during Reconstruction. [30], Warmoth struggled to lead the state during the years when the White League, a white Democratic terrorist organization, conducted an open campaign of violence and intimidation against Republicans, including freedmen, with the goals of regaining Democratic power and white supremacy. He once opined that "Jesus Christ was a carpetbagger. Carpetbaggers were initially welcomed by southerners because northern money was needed in southern states to help rebuild. The term broadly included both individuals who sought to promote Republican politics (including the right of African Americans to vote and hold office) and individuals who saw business and political opportunities because of the chaotic state of the local economies following the war. "[24], Albion W. Tourge, formerly of Ohio and a friend of President James A. Garfield, moved to North Carolina, where he practiced as a lawyer and was appointed a judge. "Creating 'the Propaganda of History': Southern Editors and the Origins of Carpetbagger and Scalawag". As the South had been shattered by the effects of the war, with its economy and infrastructure severely damaged, outside help was necessary. Today, carpetbagger remains in use, as a slur for someone whos an opportunistic outsider, such as a political candidate who runs for office in a place where he has no deep ties or hasnt lived in for a very long time. It is likely that the actions of most of them were motivated by a combination of the pursuit of personal advancement and a desire to participate in the process of transforming the South from a slavery-based society to a more egalitarian one. Wintory, Blake. Most of them were ex-soldiers, but others had not served in the military. Foner says Littlefield disbursed $200,000 (bribes) to win support in the legislature for state money for his railroads, and Democrats as well as Republicans were guilty of taking the bribes and making the decisions on the railroad. Some bought land, and some leased it. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Many carpetbaggers were said to have moved South for their own financial and political gains. Tariff of 1816 History & Significance | What was the Tariff of 1816? The term carpetbagger was a nickname for - Brainly.com Tunnell, Ted. [15], Leading "black carpetbaggers" believed the interests of capital and labor were identical, and that the freedmen were entitled to little more than an "honest chance in the race of life. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. As the Reconstruction era progressed, antipathy for these carpetbaggers swelled and intensified among white Southerners, who increasingly saw them as interlopers who failed to understand the relationship between blacks and whites in the region. d After General Lee surrendered to General Grant, the United States entered a period called Reconstruction. When the Civil War ended, Campbell was assigned to the Sea Islands of Georgia, where he engaged in an apparently successful land reform program for the benefit of the freedmen. For example, Carpetbaggers were able to purchase southern land cheaply; frequently having to only pay the back taxes on the land which could be as low as $25. Democrats held most of the economic power and cooperating with them could make his future. His 1872 reelection campaign in Alabama opened him to allegations of "political betrayal of colleagues; manipulation of Federal patronage; embezzlement of public funds; purchase of votes; and intimidation of voters by the presence of Federal troops." In reality, many of the Northerners who migrated to former Confederate states during Reconstruction were middle-class professionals seeking economic opportunities; a number also were motivated by a desire to aid newly freed African-American slaves or participate in other efforts intended to reform Southern society. The revisionist school in the 1930s called them stooges of Northern business interests. In fact, most of the Northern migrants came from middle-class backgrounds. Lindsay has taught high school and middle school history for the last 17 years. [56], The awards season blog of The New York Times is titled "The Carpetbagger". "[3], In the United Kingdom at the end of the 20th century, carpetbagger developed another meaning: in British English it refers to people who join a mutual organization, such as a building society, in order to force it to demutualize, that is, to convert into a joint stock company. Carpetbagger | History, Significance, & Facts | Britannica fault Why did carpetbaggers move to the South? - TimesMojo Carpetbaggers were the Northerners who cam e to the South. not a Why did the Freedmen's Bureau operate longer than the year that was originally planned? [18], The "Black and Tan" (biracial) constitutional convention in Mississippi in 1868 included 30 white Southerners, 17 Southern freedmen and 24 non-southerners, nearly all of whom were veterans of the Union Army. They also wrote that he supported states' rights and laissez-faire in the economy. carpetbagger, in the United States, a derogatory term for an individual from the North who relocated to the South during the Reconstruction period (186577), following the American Civil War. Congress passage of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 marked the beginning of the Radical Reconstruction period, which would last for the next decade. They wanted their own land to farm and believed they had already paid for land by their years of uncompensated labor and the trials of slavery. Southern states had no public school systems, and upper-class white Southerners either sent their children to private schools (including in England) or hired private tutors. Define carpetbagger. Republicans controlled the state government from 1867 to January 1874. Blake Wintory, "William Hines Furbush: An African American, Carpetbagger, Republican, Fusionist and Democrat. Ulysses S. Grant Presidency | Elections, Accomplishments & Scandals, Phases of the French Revolution: Overview & Events, Sherman's March to the Sea | History, Significance & Date. As its most basic level, the name derived from luggage common at the time, which resembled bags made of carpeting. Of the 142 men who served in the 12th Legislature, some 12 to 29 were from the North. He also noted that most carpetbaggers were "former soldiers from middle-class backgrounds who went South seeking a livelihood, not political office. The term was popularized by those who believed the formerly enslaved people were "unprepared for freedom, hence they relied on unscrupulous northerners, hence Reconstruction produced misgovernment and corruption.". "Louis Post as a Carpetbagger in South Carolina: Reconstruction as a Forerunner of the Progressive Movement". But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Yet the term is still considered to be an insult, and it often features in negative campaigning. Scalawags included non-slaveholding, small-time farmers; middle-class professionals and others who had stayed loyal to the Union during the war. Many also had political experience from before the war, either as members of Congress or as judges or local officials. This is only one of the many means these unprincipled demagogues have devised to perpetuate the intellectual bondage of my people. [54][55] Hillary Clinton was attacked by opponents as carpetbagging, because she had never resided in New York State or participated in the state's politics before the 2000 Senate race. Godbey, William Baxter, "Autobiography of Rev. About 13% to 21% of district court judges were Northerners, along with about 10% of the delegates who wrote the Reconstruction constitution of 1869. | Teapot Dome Scandal Significance. [12][13], Initiatives such as the Southern Homestead Act, Sherman's field orders, and Reconstruction-era legislation by Radical Republicans aimed to strip the land, assets, and voting rights of Southerners believed, without evidence, to have supported the Confederates during the war. The Republican Party had been hated in the South before the Civil War, and Lincoln's election in 1860 was the trigger that started the march of pro-slavery states seceding from the Union. She has also completed an Educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, and will have a doctorate in curriculum and assessment. Sometimes carpetbaggers even took political office in southern states, because many former Confederates were prohibited from holding political office. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! The term carpetbagger, used exclusively as a pejorative term, originated from the carpet bags (a form of cheap luggage made from carpet fabric) which many of these newcomers carried.

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