Carpetbagger Collection

CARL SCHURZ: CARPETBAGGER. Schurz, an American army officer, politician, and reformer, vilified as a carpetbagger in an 1872 cartoon by Thomas Nast

A Hard Case - Vallandighams Reception from his Friend Jeff, c
AQS257116 A Hard Case - Vallandighams Reception from his Friend Jeff, c. by American School, (19th century); American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts

The Strong Government / The Weak Government. American cartoon, 1880, comparing the Reconstruction policies of President
CARTOON: RECONSTRUCTION. The " Strong" Government 1869-1877. The " Weak" Government 1877-1881. Cartoon showing the Solid South carrying Ulysses S

The New Policy Train: After the withdrawal of Federal troops from the South
R. B. HAYES: CARPETBAGGERS. The New Policy Train: After the withdrawal of Federal troops from the South, President Hayes conducts a carpetbagger to a train heading north

LINCOLN CARTOON, 1865. The Peace Commission - Flying to Abrahams Bosom. President Abraham Lincoln greeting members of the Confederate peace commission, February 1865

CARL SCHURZ: CARPETBAGGER. Schurz, an American army officer, politician, and reformer, vilified as a carpetbagger in an 1872 cartoon by Thomas Nast

A cartoon from a northern American newspaper of 1877 commenting on the end of Reconstruction after President Rutherford
RECONSTRUCTION CARTOON. A cartoon from a northern American newspaper of 1877 commenting on the end of Reconstruction after President Rutherford B. Hayes withdrawal of federal troops from the South

Grover Cleveland Cartoon
GROVER CLEVELAND CARTOON. An 1885 American cartoon on Clevelands distaste for public appearance

JAMES BLAINE CARTOON. James Gillespie Blaine (1830-1893). A cartoon by Thomas Nast from 15 November 1884, after James Blaine had lost the Presidential election to Grover Cleveland

JAMES G. BLAINE CARTOON. Presidential candidate Blaine trying to collect his record, in a cartoon by Thomas Nast from the final days of the 1884 presidential campaign

RECONSTRUCTION. A Southern legislature in the carpet-Bagger days. Wood engraving, late 19th century
RECONSTRUCTION. A Southern legislature in the " carpet-Bagger" days. Wood engraving, late 19th century

THE CARPET BAGGER, c1869. American lithograph song sheet music cover, c1869

THE CARPET BAGGER, c1869. American lithograph song sheet music cover, c1869

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"Carpetbagger: Carl Schurz and the Controversial Era of Reconstruction" In the late 1860s, amidst a divided nation recovering from the Civil War, one name stood out - Carl Schurz. An American army officer, politician, and reformer, he became synonymous with the term "carpetbagger, " a label given to Northern opportunists who ventured into the South seeking personal gain. The engraving of "Carpet Baggers" captures this era perfectly. It portrays individuals carrying their belongings in carpet bags as they arrive in Southern states to take advantage of political turmoil and economic instability. The image speaks volumes about the perception surrounding these outsiders. Another depiction titled "A Hard Case - Vallandighams Reception from his Friend Jeff" showcases how Southerners viewed carpetbaggers with disdain. In this black-and-white photo, we witness a hostile encounter between two men representing opposing ideologies – one being Clement Vallandigham, an Ohio Democrat known for his pro-Southern sympathies. However, not all depictions were negative. "The Carpetbagger, " an oil painting on canvas, offers a more sympathetic portrayal of these individuals. It highlights their role as agents of change during Reconstruction by advocating for civil rights and social reforms in post-war America. Yet controversy continued to surround carpetbaggers' involvement in politics. A cartoon from 1880 compares President Ulysses S. Grant's strong government policies with Rutherford B. Hayes' weaker approach to Reconstruction efforts after federal troops withdrew from the South. "The New Policy Train" cartoon further illustrates this shift in power dynamics following Hayes' presidency in 1877 when federal troops left Southern states entirely. Here we see President Hayes escorting a carpetbagger onto a train heading north – symbolizing an end to Northern influence over Southern affairs. Even Abraham Lincoln was not immune to criticism regarding his stance on reconstruction policies; however, his assassination in 1865 left many questions unanswered.