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Voting during the
Reconstruction Era
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Why were
Scalawags called Scalawags?
How did the Scalawags get their name?
The name is a derivation of the old English word
'rapscallion', a low, common, deceitful,
good-for-nothing creature, also related to the word
'Scallywag' meaning rogue or scoundrel. The name of
Scalawags completely encompassed the view of these
people from the perspective of loyal Confederates of the
'old school'. The
Scalawags were loathed as being treacherous and evil
without honor or virtue - ready to pillage,
plunder and completely destroy the South.
Who were the Scalawags? The goal was obtain Money or Power
The end of the Civil War was a time for great political
change and for many it was a time for exploitation.
Unscrupulous, Southern born people were looking to exploit
opportunities for financial gain and personal political power as
Southern Republicans - these were
the men and women referred to as the 'Scalawags'.
In general, the
Scalawags came from a lower social class to the planter
elite and had come from a much less wealthy
background, did not own slaves and always resented the
power, and were hostile to, the old
Confederacy.
Who were the Scalawags? Reconstruction
The end of the
American Civil War led to the
Reconstruction
Era which lasted from 1865-1877. New state governments and economies
were established during this period and
the infrastructure of the South had to be rebuilt. Life
in the South was turned upside down. The Power in Southern politics
changed from the Democrats and was
controlled by Republicans. Freedmen (ex-slaves) also held political
offices.
What is the Difference between
Scalawags and Carpetbaggers?
The
Scalawags were people born and bred in the South.
The
Carpetbaggers came from the North
after the defeat of the South in the Civil War and the fall of the
Confederate States of America. The Carpetbaggers were
so-called because they arrived in
the South carrying a carpetbag, a common type of travelers bag, made
out of scraps of carpet. Both the renegade Scalawags and the
alien Carpetbaggers had the same objectives during the
Reconstruction era - to get rich by exploiting the South and its
people or gaining power through political advancement.
What did the
Scalawags do?
The Scalawags turned on their own
kind and were deemed as traitors to the South,
cooperating with the Republicans for the same reasons as the
Carpetbaggers. Their purpose was
to seek personal financial gain or power through political
advancement. The Scalawags were looking for money or power.
How were the Scalawags able to exploit the South? The Southern
Economy after the Civil War
The American Civil War had taken its toll on the people of the
South. The
Union Blockade had prevented the plantations and farms in the South
from selling their produce - cotton exports (the mainstay of the
economy), fell to 2% of their pre-war volume. The
Confederacy had been forced to raise money by borrowing from
its citizens in exchange for Confederate bonds. The Confederate
government issued over $150 million in Confederacy bonds, none of
which was ever repaid. The CSA also printed about $1 billion
dollars which was not backed by gold which led to high inflation -
Confederate dollars were only worth about $.05 in gold.
Many Southerners were ruined, once rich were now poor.
The Southerners had no money to pay the new property taxes.
The Southern states was economically devastated and ready
for the Scalawags to step in.
How were the Scalawags able to exploit the South? The Money Makers
What did the Scalawags do? Perfect examples of the exploitation
practiced by the Scalawags were given in the famous Margaret
Mitchell novel, subsequently made into a movie "Gone with the Wind".
One of the characters, Rhett Butler, had made vast amounts of money
as a blockade runner.
Another character, the Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara was portrayed
as unscrupulous throughout the story. She married a loyal
Confederate man who had made money from a store and had a lumber
yard as a sideline. The Scalawag, Scarlett O'Hara, insisted on
calling all debts from old Confederate friends and extended the
lumber yard - at the time of Reconstruction there was massive
re-building projects. Cheap labor had been made available by the
Vagrancy Laws and Convict Leasing
and Scarlett O'Hara exploited the convicts and the need for
lumber.
How did Scalawags change government in the South?
The Power Hungry Scalawags
What did the Scalawags do? The Scalawags were
looking to gain political power in the new Southern
state governments as Southern Republicans.
Southerners had attempted to restore self-rule but
failed. The
Black Codes
had been over turned by Congress. Former Confederate
leaders and military personnel were temporarily
banned from both voting and holding political office
in the South. The ex-slaves were given the right to
vote, run for public office and participate in the
new state governments. The black vote provided the
means for the Southern Republican Scalawags to
acquire political power. The Freedmen became the
political allies of the Scalawags and the
Carpetbaggers. White Southerners with Republican
sympathies joined forces with Northerners to run the
South. Once elected to office the Scalawags had the
power to pass new laws and to grant lucrative
contracts for the re-building of the South. Corrupt
Scalawags made a fortune from accepting bribes and
making the most of money making opportunities.
How did Scalawags affect Reconstruction?
The Scalawags had a significant impact and effect during the
Reconstruction era:
● White
Southerners, ex-confederate officers and the
social elite were denied political power and
replaced by the Scalawags
● The Scalawags
sought allies with Carpetbaggers and Freedmen to
form the Republican Party in the South
● Republican
Scalawags obtained power and influenced
Reconstruction in the Southern states by serving
as constitutional convention delegates,
representatives, judges, sheriffs and as other
local and state government officials
● Unscrupulous
Scalawags passed high property taxes and
misappropriated funds
● The bad
management of many Scalawags were responsible
for increasing levels of debt in the South
Black
History for kids: Important People and Events
For visitors interested in African American History
refer to
Black History - People and Events.
A useful resource for
teachers, kids, schools and colleges undertaking
projects for the Black History Month.
Scalawags for kids - President Andrew Johnson Video
The article on the Scalawags provides an overview of
the emergence of the Scalawags during his presidential term in office. The following
Andrew Johnson video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 17th American President whose presidency spanned from April 15, 1865 to March 4, 1869.
Scalawags
●
Interesting Facts about the Scalawags for kids and schools
● Facts about the
Scalawags for kids
●
The Southern Scalawags
●
Andrew Johnson Presidency from April 15, 1865 to March 4, 1869
●
Fast, fun, facts about the Scalawags
●
Domestic
policies of President Johnson and Civil Rights Act of
1866
● Andrew Johnson Presidency and
the Scalawags for schools,
homework, kids and children |
