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Carpetbaggers
CARPETBAGGERSCARPETBAGGERS. In the face of the dire financial collapse that followed the Union army's decimation of the physical and commercial infrastructure of the South, once-wealthy Southerners frequently found themselves thrust into abject poverty. An economy thus thrown into chaos made an attractive target for Northern speculators hoping to buy properties at a fraction of their pre-war values in exchange for ready cash. Known for their cheap, shoddy luggage indicative of the transient nature of their business travels, these "carpetbaggers" often enlisted local poor whites or Newly freed slaves as their assistants. This invasion of their property by these geographic, economic, and/or racial outsiders insulted the Southern planters' love for tradition and heritage. During Reconstruction, these carpetbaggers formed the foundation of the Republican party in the South. BIBLIOGRAPHYCurrent, Richard Nelson. Those Terrible Carpetbaggers. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988. Kennedy, Stetson. After Appomattox: How the South Won the War. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1995. Barbara SchwarzWachal See alsoReconstruction ; Scalawag . |
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"Carpetbaggers." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Carpetbaggers." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401800685.html "Carpetbaggers." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401800685.html |
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Carpetbaggers
CARPETBAGGERSCarpetbaggers was a derisive term that referred to northern merchants who arrived in the South in the early days of Reconstruction (1865–1877), the twelve-year period of rebuilding that followed the American Civil War (1861–1865). Carpetbaggers were so named because many of them carried carpetbags as luggage. Some Southerners even quipped that these northerners could carry all of their belongings in a carpetbag— implying that carpetbaggers were nothing more than transients. Many northern businessmen who migrated to the South settled there, but Southerners viewed the newcomers as outsiders and, worse, as opportunists who only intended to make a quick profit before returning North. Nevertheless, carpetbaggers played an important role during Reconstruction. Some, aided by the African American vote, were elected to public office and impacted state and local policy. But others proved to be corrupt. Because of the latter, the term "carpetbagger" became synonymous with a meddling, opportunistic outsider. See also: Reconstruction, Scalawags |
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"Carpetbaggers." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Carpetbaggers." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406400139.html "Carpetbaggers." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3406400139.html |
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carpetbaggers
carpetbaggers epithet used in the South after the Civil War to describe Northerners who went to the South during Reconstruction to make money. Although regarded as transients because of the carpetbags in which they carried their possessions (hence the name carpetbaggers ), most intended to settle in the South and take advantage of speculative and commercial opportunities there. With the support of the black vote the carpetbaggers played an important role in the Republican state governments. The corrupt activities of some made the term carpetbagger synonymous with any outsider who meddles in an area's political affairs for his own benefit.
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"carpetbaggers." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "carpetbaggers." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-carpetba.html "carpetbaggers." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-carpetba.html |
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carpetbagger
carpetbagger (in the USA) A northerner who moved into the post-Civil War American South. In the wake of the RECONSTRUCTION ACTS of 1867, large numbers of Northern entrepreneurs, educators, and missionaries arrived in the South to share in the rebuilding of the former states of the CONFEDERACY. Some carpetbaggers (so called because it was said that they could transport their entire assets in a carpetbag) hoped to help the Black ex-slave population, but others were interested only in making a quick profit.
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"carpetbagger." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "carpetbagger." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-carpetbagger.html "carpetbagger." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-carpetbagger.html |
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carpetbagger
carpetbagger in the US in the 19th century, a person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from Reconstruction, of whom it was said that their ‘property qualification’ consisted merely of the contents of the carpet-bag they had brought with them.
In extended usage, the term now denotes a political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "carpetbagger." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "carpetbagger." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-carpetbagger.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "carpetbagger." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-carpetbagger.html |
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carpetbagger
car·pet·bag·ger / ˈkärpitˌbagər/ • n. derog. a political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections. ∎ hist. (in the U.S.) a person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from Reconstruction. ∎ a person perceived as an unscrupulous opportunist. |
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"carpetbagger." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "carpetbagger." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-carpetbagger.html "carpetbagger." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-carpetbagger.html |
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carpetbaggers
carpetbaggers Term used after the US Civil War to refer to Northern whites who entered the South as Republicans. They were regarded by many white Southerners as opportunists, seeking political office with the aid of the votes of former slaves for the sake of economic gain. They were alleged to have arrived with nothing more than a small travelling bag.
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"carpetbaggers." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "carpetbaggers." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-carpetbaggers.html "carpetbaggers." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-carpetbaggers.html |
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carpetbagger
carpetbagger
•blagger, bragger, dagger, flagger, Jagger, lagger, nagger, quagga, saggar, shagger, stagger, swagger
•alga, realgar, Trafalgar
•anger, clangour (US clangor), Katanga, languor, manga, panga, sangar, tanga, Tauranga, Zamboanga
•sandbagger • carpetbagger • Erlanger
•Aga, Braga, dagga, dargah, laager, lager, naga, Onondaga, raga, saga
•beggar, eggar, Gregor, mega, Megger
•Edgar • Helga • Heidegger
•bootlegger
•Jaeger, maigre, Meleager, Noriega, Ortega, rutabaga, Sagar
•Antigua, beleaguer, bodega, eager, intriguer, leaguer, meagre (US meager), reneger, Riga, Seeger, Vega
•chigger, configure, digger, figure, Frigga, jigger, ligger, rigger, rigor, rigour, snigger, swigger, transfigure, trigger, vigour (US vigor)
•churinga, finger, linger, malinger
•gravedigger • ladyfinger • forefinger
•omega • vinegar • Honegger
•outrigger • Minnesinger
•Auriga, Eiger, liger, saiga, taiga, tiger
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"carpetbagger." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "carpetbagger." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-carpetbagger.html "carpetbagger." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-carpetbagger.html |
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