On Southern History: What is the Difference Between a "Scalawag" and a "Carpetbagger"?

[pinochet]

I have always been fascinated by America's Civil War history, and its aftermath. Some terms such as "Scalawag" and "Carpetbagger" can can be confusing. How exactly do you define those two terms?

From the perspective of American history, should "Scalawags" and "Carpetbaggers" be considered heroes or villains? Should the White Southerners who fought for the Union during the Civil War be seen as heroes, who deserve monuments built to them in the South?

[pinochet]

It would be helpful to give a list of well known people today, and in the past, who are Scalawags and Carpetbaggers.

[I_Publius]

I’m sure the Clinton’s would be on that list, somewhere....

[ColdWater]

Scalawags did not carry carpet bags.

[kittymyrib]

First of all, it wasn’t a “civil war.” The Confederate States did not want to take over the government of the USA. They wanted out. This should be called “The War for Southern Independence.” They had as much right to want their independence as the original 13 colonies did when they fought the British. The difference was that they lost, and the winners write the history books.

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

Ditto to post #3. I’m just a little more worried about the “carpetbaggers” in Washington TODAY.

[kempster]

A Scalawag is a President who comes into office and does just the opposite of what he said he would and a Carpetbagger is a President who comes from a different country and runs for President in this country. Hope this helps.

[Boardwalk]

In Gone With The Wind - Scarlett called Rhett Butler a Scalawag.

[Puppage]

If I remember my 7th grade history class, they both had the same definition. The old Kleenex & tissue example.

But, then again, it was a public school circa 1973

[nathanbedford]

A carpetbagger was an interloper, a scoundrel, who descended upon the South in the wake of the war to exploit the dislocation and assume public office.

A Scalawag was a turncoat southerner.

All carpetbagger's were scalawags but no scalawag was a carpetbagger.

[nathanbedford]

A carpetbagger was an interloper, a scoundrel, who descended upon the South in the wake of the war to exploit the dislocation and assume public office.

A Scalawag was a turncoat southerner.

All carpetbagger's were scalawags but no scalawag was a carpetbagger.

[org.whodat]

Scalawags were born here, Carpetbeggers moved in. Simple!!

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I know what a carptebagger was. I’ve never heard the term Scalawag. Could that by scalleywags? I thought that’s what Pirates called each other, like ahoy there ya’ scallywag!!

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

How exactly do you define those two terms?

Ummmm..., a good place to start is always with dictionaries... LOL...

---

scalawag, scallywag

• (n) scalawag, scallywag (a white Southerner who supported Reconstruction policies after the American Civil War (usually for self-interest))
• (n) rogue, knave, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag, scallywag, varlet (a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel)
• (n) imp, scamp, monkey, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag, scallywag (one who is playfully mischievous)

---

carpetbagger

• (n) carpetbagger (an outsider who seeks power or success presumptuously) "after the Civil War the carpetbaggers from the north tried to take over the south"

[org.whodat]

That is correct it was the “War of Northern Aggression”.

[chesley]

“Scalawags” were Southerners who co-operated with the occupation for their own benefit. “Carpetbaggers” were damnyankees who came down South, carrying all their possesioons in a ‘carpetbag’, hoping to exploit the situation to their own benefit.

Neither term could be considered complimentary.

[Non-Sequitur]

This should be called “The War for Southern Independence.”

The "War of the Southern Rebellion" is actually more accurate.

They had as much right to want their independence as the original 13 colonies did when they fought the British.

They may have had as much right, but obviously not as much desire since they lost and the Founding Father's won.

The difference was that they lost, and the winners write the history books.

And the losers write the myths.

[org.whodat]

See #11

[Non-Sequitur]

From the perspective of American history, should "Scalawags" and "Carpetbaggers" be considered heroes or villains?

I am sure you can find many heroes and many villians in both categories.

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

and the winners write the history books

and... also... political hacks trying to rewrite history after the fact... LOL...

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Scalawags were born here, Carpetbeggers moved in. Simple!!

Ummmm... what you are?! An American Indian? LOL...