Question

Carpetbaggers and freed African Americans, had Republican support in the South from white Southerners who saw an advantage in backing Reconstruction. Critics referred to these Southerners as "----."

Answer 1

Critics called white Southerners who supported Reconstruction and the Republican party 'scalawags.' Scalawags collaborated with carpetbaggers and freed African Americans for various reasons, ranging from self-interest to humanitarian goals, and were often resented by other Southerners.

Step-by-step explanation:

Critics referred to white Southerners who supported Republican efforts during Reconstruction as "scalawags." The term Scalawag was used disparagingly by those opposed to Reconstruction to describe Southern whites who aligned themselves with the Republican Party, black Americans, and Northerners (often labeled as carpetbaggers) who moved to the South during this period. Many Scalawags were motivated by the potential for economic gain or political power, but some also had humanitarian intentions and supported the Republican ideals for a transformed and equitable postwar South. Despite their varied motivations, Scalawags were viewed negatively by other Southerners who wished to maintain pre-Civil War social hierarchies and opposed the changes that came with Reconstruction.