Who were 'Scalawags' in the post-Civil War South?

'Scalawags' referred specifically to white southerners who supported the federal government during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. This term was typically used in a derogatory manner by those who opposed Reconstruction policies and viewed these supporters as traitors to the Southern cause. Scalawags were often associated with the Republican Party during a time when the party sought to implement reforms, protect the rights of formerly enslaved individuals, and reconstruct the Southern economy and society.

In this context, their support for the federal government included backing programs aimed at rebuilding the South and integrating freedmen into society. This willingness to advocate for unionist policies in the face of widespread resistance from other white southerners positioned them as key players in the political landscape of the early Reconstruction period. Understanding this term sheds light on the complexities of Southern loyalties and the differing views on Reconstruction during this tumultuous time in American history.