Which group consisted of white Southerners who cooperated with Northern Republicans?

The group that consisted of white Southerners who cooperated with Northern Republicans is known as Scalawags. During the Reconstruction era after the Civil War, Scalawags were Southern whites who supported the Republican Party and the policies implemented by Northern leaders. Their collaboration often stemmed from a desire for change, including support for civil rights for newly freed African Americans and rebuilding the Southern economy.

This cooperation with Northern Republicans was seen as betrayal by many Southern whites who opposed Reconstruction. Scalawags sought to gain political power and influence in a region that was experiencing significant social and political upheaval. By aligning themselves with the Republican Party, they aimed to promote reforms that would benefit their communities—though this alignment also made them targets of resentment among those loyal to the Confederacy.

Other groups mentioned have different contexts: Carpetbaggers were Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often perceived as exploiting the region’s struggles; Copperheads were Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War; and Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party pushing for more severe measures against the Southern states and stronger protections for African Americans. Thus, Scalawags accurately describes the cooperative relationship between certain Southern whites and Northern Republicans.