Introduction
After the Civil War, the United States entered a period known as Reconstruction. Significant changes were occurring in society in the South at a rapid pace, causing mixed emotions among the population. During that period, a substantial portion of Southerners began to call some individuals who arrived in the region recently carpetbaggers, while those natives who supported Black people, scalawags (Kamensky et al. 509).
These terms were implied to be derogatory, indicating an attempt to create an adverse image of these people. Individuals who were considered proponents for integrating African Americans into the political landscape of the South affected the region immensely through their political and social stances that favored desegregation and integration of previously enslaved people into the communities.
Carpetbaggers
The first source of influence came from the winning side of the Civil War. Even though many Northerners who were branded as carpetbaggers went to the South in search of job opportunities, people reacted negatively to their mere presence in their state (Kamensky et al. 509). These individuals were persecuted due to their alleged self-enrichment motivations. However, Farrington argues that many carpetbaggers also wanted to affect the political discourse and rebuild the South to incorporate “the image of small-scale competitive capitalism” (15). Thus, their intentions were partially correctly identified, as carpetbaggers indeed wanted to change the local way of life.
The impact of carpetbaggers stemmed from their goals of giving a voice to African Americans. A portion of Northern settlers became politicians who promoted policies that positively affected the rights of freedmen, such as the removal of the prohibition on race-mixing (Farrington 22). The tools used to achieve this goal were similar to those employed by the Southern Democrats. Media channels were created and distributed information regarding the benefits of greater inclusion, while carpetbaggers who became politicians pushed redistributive policies that could have improved the development of Black communities (Chacón et al. 327). Therefore, the combined efforts of politicians and propagandists created a problematic situation for Southerners who did not want to see such changes.
Southern politicians understood the threat and attempted to address it by influencing public opinion. The negative perceptions within Southern communities of these individuals were perpetuated by the media channels of that time, as biases in journalism were common (Farrington 8). Since newspapers were the primary accessible sources of news, the sentiments among Southerners who lacked access to credible outlets were easily influenced. However, these efforts did not achieve the desired outcome, as Northerners were able to establish organizations that promoted equality, such as the Freedmen’s Bureau (Farrington 11). Thus, the Reconstruction was greatly focused on eradicating racist ideas from society in an attempt to seek the unification of Americans.
Scalawags
The negative views in the South also expanded to include White individuals who were native to these states yet decided to show their support for Black people. Those who cooperated with the Republicans on the subject of expanding African Americans’ rights in the South were commonly branded as scalawags by the locals (Kamensky et al. 509). This term was intended to convey their lower social status and create an unfavorable image, much like that of carpetbaggers.
The desire to obtain the political influence of scalawags stemmed from their lack of past involvement in slaveholding practices. These individuals recognized the potential benefits to the planters’ common interests from cooperation with Black people and sought to promote the expansion of rights for previously enslaved persons (Kamensky et al. 509). The methods employed were akin to those of carpetbaggers, with whom they were commonly associated and often cooperated. Media outlets produced by these individuals attempted to reverse the damage done by the Southern propaganda and depict the economic benefits stemming from the greater inclusion of Black people (Chacón et al. 326). While a portion of these intentions could have been considered selfish, the desegregation efforts benefited society.
The reactions from the Southern Democrats were strongly negative, as they perceived the attempts of scalawags to fight for equality as a threat to their traditions. As the outcome of these attempts, there were incidents of assault on Black voters that were attributed to the Ku Klux Klan, which were considered acts of terrorism (Kamensky et al. 511). Therefore, there were apparent hostilities within the Southern communities stemming from the political activities of scalawags.
Conclusion
In summary, scalawags and carpetbaggers influenced society in the Southern states immensely through their political and social activities that focused on promoting the acceptance of Black people as equals. The derogatory terms applied to these individuals were intended to create a negative image in the public’s view. Northerners who came to the Southern states were pursuing both commercial and political interests.
At the same time, Southerners who allied with the Republican Party sought to alleviate societal disparities and leverage the political system. The coalition between carpetbaggers and scalawags led to the creation of a significant framework for the support of Black people in the South. However, there were instances where the resistance against such changes led to violent confrontations, as Southerners were unwilling to change their views.
Works Cited
Chacón, Mario L., et al. “Sustaining Democracy with Force: Black Representation During Reconstruction.” Journal of Historical Political Economy, vol. 1, no. 3, 2021, pp. 319-351.
Farrington, Caprial E. Beyond the Carpetbagger: The Emergence of Racialized Terms as a Political Weapon in the Reconstruction Era South. 2020. Oregon State University, MA thesis.
Kamensky, Jane, et al. A People and a Nation: A History of the United States. 11th ed., Cengage Learning, 2022.