USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -In the history of the United States, carpetbagger is a largely historical term used by Southerners to describe opportunistic Northerners who came to the Southern states after the American Civil War, who were perceived to be exploiting the local populace for their own financial, political, and/or social gain.

Detailed explanation-2: -These “carpetbaggers”–whom many in the South viewed as opportunists looking to exploit and profit from the region’s misfortunes–supported the Republican Party, and would play a central role in shaping new southern governments during Reconstruction.

Detailed explanation-3: -As reconstruction continued, southerners viewed Carpetbaggers as opportunistic northerners who were taking advantage of weakened southerners. Many Carpetbaggers were even targeted by the Ku Klux Klan, mainly because of their efforts in supporting racial equality in southern states.

Detailed explanation-4: -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 moved to the South after the war, supposedly in an effort to get rich or acquire political power.

Detailed explanation-5: -Therefore, the majority of Southerners saw them as traitors. Former Confederate soldiers were disenfranchised at the beginning of Reconstruction because they had not yet taken an Ironclad Oath of allegiance to the Union. This gave incoming Northerners more political power.