Why do you think carpetbaggers and scalawags were mistrusted and scorned by southern?

Answer 1

Carpetbaggers and scalawags were mistrusted and scorned by many Southerners because they were seen as opportunists taking advantage of the South's post-Civil War vulnerabilities. Carpetbaggers, often Northern transplants, were perceived as exploiting the region for personal gain, while scalawags, Southern whites who supported Reconstruction, were viewed as traitors to their own people. This resentment stemmed from a deep-seated fear of losing social and political power, as well as a desire to resist the changes brought about by Reconstruction efforts. Overall, their actions were seen as threats to the traditional Southern way of life.