Who were the scalawags and carpetbagggers?

Scalawags were Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party after the Civil War, often viewed as traitors by their fellow Southerners. Carpetbaggers were Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, seeking economic opportunities or political power, often perceived as exploiting the region's turmoil. Both groups played significant roles in the political landscape of the post-war South, though they faced considerable hostility from many local communities. Their legacies remain contentious in discussions about Reconstruction's impact and the South's recovery.