Scalawags

Definition

Scalawags were Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party after the Civil War, often seen as traitors by those who opposed these changes. This term embodies the political and social tensions in Alabama during Reconstruction, where former Confederates viewed scalawags as a threat to their way of life and to the traditional social order.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Scalawags were often former Whigs or moderates who believed in some degree of reform and were willing to collaborate with the Republican Party.
2. In Alabama, scalawags played a significant role in local politics, helping to implement new laws that supported civil rights and public education.
3. The term was used pejoratively by those opposing Reconstruction, particularly former Confederates who felt betrayed by their fellow Southerners.
4. Many scalawags faced violence and intimidation from groups like the Ku Klux Klan as they tried to assert their political beliefs during Reconstruction.
5. The presence of scalawags highlighted the divisions within Southern society, as they represented a faction willing to embrace change in contrast to the more traditionalist views of many Southerners.

Review Questions

• How did scalawags contribute to the implementation of Reconstruction policies in Alabama?
  • Scalawags significantly contributed to the implementation of Reconstruction policies in Alabama by participating in the political process and supporting the Republican Party. They often advocated for reforms that aimed at improving civil rights and education for newly freed African Americans. Their involvement was crucial in shaping local governance and challenging the existing power structures that had been dominated by former Confederates.
• Analyze the social repercussions faced by scalawags within their communities during the Reconstruction era.
  • Scalawags faced considerable social repercussions within their communities as they aligned themselves with the Republican Party and supported Reconstruction policies. Many were ostracized, threatened, or even attacked by those who opposed these changes, particularly former Confederates who viewed them as traitors. This hostility created a climate of fear and intimidation, impacting their ability to participate fully in political life and secure their reforms.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of scalawags on Southern politics following Reconstruction and how they influenced future generations.
  • The long-term effects of scalawags on Southern politics were significant, as they laid groundwork for future political alignments and reform movements in Alabama and beyond. Their willingness to embrace change during a tumultuous time showcased an alternative vision for Southern society that eventually influenced later civil rights efforts. Despite facing backlash, their legacy contributed to a slow but eventual shift towards greater political inclusion and civil rights advocacy in Southern states, impacting future generations' understanding of political engagement.

Related terms

Carpetbaggers: Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often seeking economic opportunities and political power, sometimes viewed with suspicion by locals.

Radical Republicans:

A faction within the Republican Party that advocated for strong federal action to protect the rights of African Americans and ensure their civil rights during Reconstruction.

Reconstruction Acts: Laws passed by Congress in 1867 that laid out the process for readmitting Southern states into the Union, requiring new state constitutions that guaranteed voting rights for African American men.