carpetbagger

[ kahr-pit-bag-er ]

noun

1. U.S. History. a Northerner who went to the South after the Civil War and became active in Republican politics, especially so as to profiteer from the unsettled social and political conditions of the area during Reconstruction.
2. a politician who takes up residence in a place and runs for office without having strong ties to the area.
3. any opportunistic or exploitive outsider:

   Our bus company has served this town for years, but now the new one run by carpetbaggers from the city is stealing our business.

carpetbagger

/ ˈkɑːpɪtˌbæɡə /

noun

1. a politician who seeks public office in a locality where he has no real connections
2. a person who makes a short-term investment in a mutual savings or life-assurance organization in order to benefit from free shares issued following the organization's conversion to a public limited company
3. a Northern White who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from Reconstruction

Other Words From

• carpet·bagger·y noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpetbagger¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1865–70; carpetbag + -er ¹; so called because they came South carrying their belongings in carpetbags

Example Sentences

As far as some Virginians were concerned, he was also an integrationist carpetbagger.

From Los Angeles Times

There were times when fans were skeptical of “carpetbagger country.”

From Los Angeles Times

That will be no mean feat in a district where she is already facing the “carpetbagger” aspersion.

From New York Times

Democrats have branded Hovde as a carpetbagger who left his California mansion to run for Senate in Wisconsin, where he was born and raised.

From Seattle Times

“By Lauren Boebert district shopping and becoming a carpetbagger so she can keep her office in D.C., she has now become part of the swamp,” he said.

From Seattle Times

More About Carpetbagger

What is a carpetbagger?

A carpetbagger is a demeaning term for a politician who runs for office in an area they have no actual ties to.

Carpetbagger is always a negative word, implying or accusing someone of exploiting a situation for personal gain.

During the U.S.’s Reconstruction period, which followed the American Civil War, carpetbagger referred to white Northerners who moved to the South to easily win political offices. Most experienced Southern politicians were either dead or would have no chance of being elected by new Republican Black voters and Northern sympathizers. White Southerners saw these candidates as trespassing opportunists.

Carpetbagger is used more generally to mean any politician seeking office in a geographic area they have no connection to, as in The native Texan running for office in California was criticized by many locals as being a carpetbagger.

Carpetbagger is also used more generally to mean any opportunistic outsider, as in The foreign celebrity was called a carpetbagger on social media after he took selfies with local disaster victims and left without helping anyone.

Example: Because the candidate had just moved to Minnesota, he was accused of being a carpetbagger and using Minnesota to get a political position. 

Where does carpetbagger come from?

The first records of the term carpetbagger come from around 1865. It is Americanism that combines carpetbag, meaning “a bag made for traveling, especially one made of carpeting,” and -er, a suffix used to designate a person from a special circumstance or characteristic. Carpetbagger refers to the fact that some Northerners brought their belongings in a carpetbag when they went to run for political office in the South.

The implication of a carpetbagger is that they don’t actually care about the place and the people they would represent, while a candidate from the area would care deeply.

During Reconstruction, the American South was socially and politically unstable, and some white Northerners did go South to run for office under the Republican Party. While the Republicans did end up winning most of the Southern elections held during Reconstruction, local Southerners did regain political offices throughout most of the South.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to carpetbagger?

• carpetbaggery (noun)

What are some synonyms for carpetbagger?

• opportunist
• timeserver

What are some words that share a root or word element with carpetbagger?

• carpetbag

What are some words that often get used in discussing carpetbagger?

• the South
• Reconstruction
• politics
• exploit
• opportunism

How is carpetbagger used in real life?

Carpetbagger is a serious accusation when made against a politician.

I just saw somebody get called a carpetbagger on a campaign commercial lol

— T (@T_Bales93) August 3, 2020

Disappointed that another Kentucky primary election season passed without anyone being called a carpetbagger.

— Blake Spires (@RealFakeBlake) May 19, 2015

Exactly. Disingenuous at best. I wouldn’t vote for a carpetbagger.

— Diane No Last Name Anymore 🇨🇦 (@HamstersRFunny) March 10, 2021

Try using carpetbagger!

True or False?

Carpetbagger describes a politician who runs for office in an area that they were born in.