During Reconstruction, the term "carpetbagger" referred to Northern individuals, often politicians or entrepreneurs, who moved to the South after the Civil War.

Many sought to take advantage of the South's unstable economic and political conditions for personal gain, which led to resentment among Southerners. The term was derived from the cheap carpet bags they were said to carry, symbolizing their perceived opportunism. While some carpetbaggers aimed to support Reconstruction efforts and help integrate freed slaves into society, they were often met with suspicion and hostility from the local population.