Who were scalawags during the Reconstruction Era?

Scalawags were primarily white farmers and other individuals in the South who supported the Reconstruction efforts and cooperated with the Republican Party after the Civil War. This group was often viewed unfavorably by former Confederates and others who opposed Reconstruction. Scalawags typically favored policies that sought to rebuild the South, promote civil rights for freedmen, and integrate the southern economy into the broader national framework.

Their support for the Republican Party and its policies was seen as a betrayal by many Southern whites who had been aligned with the Confederacy. The term "scalawag" itself was often used derogatorily to describe these individuals, emphasizing how deeply polarized society was during this period. Their role was crucial in helping to implement changes that aimed at integrating newly freed African Americans into society and rebuilding the South after the devastation of the Civil War.