What term describes Southern whites who relocated to the North during the Reconstruction era?

The term that describes Southern whites who relocated to the North during the Reconstruction era is typically "scalawags." This term was used primarily to refer to white Southerners who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party, often seen as traitors to their region. When discussing Southern migration to the North after the Civil War, though, they are more commonly associated with the challenges and changes of that era rather than specifically relocating to the North.

The other terms have distinct meanings: "carpetbaggers" generally refers to Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often for political or economic gains, suggesting exploitation; "freedmen" denotes formerly enslaved individuals who gained freedom as a result of the war; and "redeemers" refers to Southern Democrats who sought to reclaim control from Reconstruction efforts, often restoring pre-war racial and political norms.

Understanding these terms within the context of the Reconstruction period provides insight into the social and political dynamics at play during this transformative time in American history.