The Radical Republican Party of the Reconstruction Era

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During the Reconstruction Era of the Civil War, a two new political groups began to form. The Radical Republican Party gained some of its greatest members, two groups of people from opposite sides of the country (Hodges 1). The carpetbaggers and scalawags joined forces to reconstruct the South, but they were met with controversy and criticism because of their radical worldview (Hodges 1). The carpetbaggers and scalawags’ goals were met with controversy then, but the group can be attributed with one of the first Civil Rights attempts within the South among other great achievements (Coleman “Affect on Reconstruction” 1). The Radical Republican Party encompassed both the carpetbaggers and the scalawags (Hodges 1). The carpetbaggers were newly joined members of the Republican Party that moved from the North to the South to make money from the South’s poverty and in turn help begin the Reconstruction in the South (Hodges 1; Muhammad 1). The “carpetbagger” label could encompass any well educated member of the middle class (“Carpetbaggers and Scalawags” 2). During the Reconstruction Era, large numbers of people were traveling from the North to the South (Muhammad 1). Since there was such a large number of people traveling during that time, a cheap way to carry luggage was in high demand (Muhammad 1). So “carpetbags”, which where made from old carpets, were manufactured (Muhammad 1). This bag held the owner’s only possessions, specifically for the carpetbaggers as they headed south (Muhammad 1). On the other hand, scalawags were Southerners who disliked secession or had fought for the Union Army (Hodges 1). The “scalawag” label encompassed wealthy southern landowners, displaced carpetbaggers, black freedman, former Whigs, poor S... ... middle of paper ... ...a of Arkansas History and Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. October 26 2011. February 5 2014. Harris, Rodney. “Minstrels [Political Faction].” The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. October 26 2011. February 5 2014. Hodges, Mary Frances. “Carpetbaggers and Scalawags.” The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. October 26 2011. January 30 2014. Muhammad, Brian. “Carpetbaggers in Reconstruction: Definition, Lesson & Quiz.” Education Portal. January 30 2014. Richards, Adam. “Scalawags in the Civil War: Definition, Lesson, & Quiz.” Education Portal. January 30 2014. Sansing, David G. “Adelbert Ames: Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth Governor of Mississippi: 1868-1870; 1874-1876.” Mississippi History NOW. Mississippi Historical Society. December 2003. February 5 2014.

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