What is controversial about the names Carpetbagger and Scalawags?

Answer 1

carpetbagger and scalawag are meant to be offensive names. carpetbagger is in reference to a northerner who went down to the southern states after the civil war, with carpet bags filled with necessities that they would often sell at higher prices. most just wanted to gouge the southerners and make a quick profit, but a handful actually attempted to help them by selling the items at cheap prices.

scalawags were white southerners in the republican party right after the civil war. that was a HUGE no no. basically, the south voted as a block: all democratic. the republicans were (obviously), at this point in time, northerners, and most black people were republicans as well. scalawags cooperated with black people (another no no, at the time) in this political party.

dont take my message as racist, because im not...thats just what they did back then.

Answer 2

I think carpetbaggers were what poor people in the south called rich people with fancy suitcases (carpetbags) who took advantage of them after the civil war.

I just checked and I was partly correct. See the source below.

Answer 3

Sidewinder is right. what he said is exactly the reasons for the names.