Scalawags
Definition
Scalawags were white Southerners who cooperated with Northern Republicans during Reconstruction for personal gain or out of political conviction.
Analogy
Imagine you're playing a team game where everyone has chosen sides. But then some players from one team start helping out the other side because they think it will benefit them more. That's kind of what scalawags did during Reconstruction.
Related terms
Radical Republicans: This was a faction of American politicians within Republican party who wanted harsh punishments for Southern states after Civil War; they also championed civil rights for freed slaves.
Black Codes: These were laws passed by Southern states during Reconstruction designed to restrict African Americans' freedom and force them into labor due to low wages or debt.
Freedmen’s Bureau: An agency established by Congress at end of Civil War to help former slaves and poor whites in South. It provided food, housing, medical aid, and legal assistance.
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