What term refers to northerners who moved south after the Civil War for economic opportunities?

The term that refers to northerners who moved south after the Civil War for economic opportunities is "carpetbaggers." This designation emerged during the Reconstruction era, when many individuals from the northern states traveled to the South, often carrying all their possessions in a carpet bag. They sought to take advantage of the economic and political instability in the aftermath of the Civil War, as well as the potential for new business ventures and the opportunity to influence the political landscape in the South.

Carpetbaggers were often viewed with suspicion and hostility by southerners, who perceived them as opportunists exploiting the region's difficulties. Their involvement played a significant role in the Reconstruction process, as they participated in various political and social efforts to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved individuals into society.

In contrast, scalawags were typically southerners who supported Reconstruction and cooperated with carpetbaggers, while reconstructionists could refer broadly to those involved in the Reconstruction effort, regardless of their geographic origin. Secessionists, on the other hand, were individuals who supported the secession of southern states from the Union prior to and during the Civil War, which is unrelated to the post-war movement of northerners into the South.