What were carpetbaggers?
Carpetbaggers were Northern businessmen who arrived in the South in the early days of Reconstruction (1865–77), the twelve-year period of rebuilding that followed the American Civil War (1861–65; a conflict between the North and the South). They were called carpetbaggers because they carried bags made of carpet as luggage. Even though many of these Northerners intended to settle in the South, Southerners viewed them as outsiders and, worse, as opportunists who intended only to make a quick profit before returning North. Some Southerners even joked that carpetbaggers could fit all their belongings in a carpetbag, implying that they did not plan to stay in the South. Nevertheless, Northerners who relocated to the South following the Civil War played an important role during Reconstruction. With the help of black voters, some were elected to public office and had a positive impact on state and local…
