Carpetbagger Definition History

In general the term carpetbagger refers to a traveler who arrives in a new region with only a satchel or carpetbag of possessions and who attempts to profit from or gain.

Carpetbagger definition history.

The term is now used in the united states to refer to a parachute candidate that is an outsider who runs. Carpetbagger derogatory term originally used in the u s. Share flipboard email print 1872 harper s weekly political cartoon of carl schurz depicted as a carpetbagger which reflected southern attitudes toward northerners during reconstruction. It was applied to politicians and financial adventurers whom southerners accused of coming south to use the newly enfranchised freedmen to obtain office or profit.

Meaning pronunciation translations and examples. The term carpetbagger was used by opponents of reconstruction the period. A carpetbagger was a northerner who moved to the south after the american civil war this period is called the reconstruction era. Carpetbagger is a term from the united states political history.

Sixty carpetbaggers were elected to congress among them were most republican governors in the south during reconstruction. During the reconstruction period 1865 77 to denote a northerner who moved to the south. Carpetbagger definition is a northerner in the south after the american civil war usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments. Following the american civil war if someone called you a carpetbagger or scalawag it wasn t meant as a compliment.

Definition and origin of the political term how a derogatory term from the 1860s remains a political insult. If you call someone a carpetbagger you disapprove of them because they are trying to. 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. White southerners feared they would loot the defeated south.