Question

a “carpetbagger” was a derogatory term applied by former confederates to any person from the north who came to the southern states after the civil war. they were perceived as exploiting the local populace. in what ways might carpetbaggers be seen as exploiting the south? the freedmen’s bureau was established in 1865 by congress to help millions freed from slavery and poor whites in the south in the aftermath of the civil war. what did the freedmen’s bureau do to help people who were freed from enslavement? editorial cartoon from harper’s weekly in 1879 criticizing the use of literacy tests. it shows “mr. solid south” writing on the wall, “eddikashun qualifikashun. the blak man orter be eddikated afore he kin vote with us wites, signed mr. solid south.” how were literacy tests used to deny african americans the right to vote? what is hypocritical about “mr. solid south” in this cartoon?

Explanation:

1. Carpetbaggers were seen as exploiting the South by taking advantage of the region's post - Civil War economic and political instability for personal gain, often through corrupt business and political practices.
2. The Freedmen's Bureau provided food, housing, medical care, education, and legal assistance to the formerly enslaved. It also helped them find employment and negotiate labor contracts.
3. Literacy tests were used to deny African Americans the right to vote by setting high - standard and often complex reading and writing requirements that were selectively enforced. African Americans, who had been systematically denied education during slavery, were disproportionately affected.
4. Mr. Solid South is hypocritical because while he demands "education qualification" for African Americans to vote, many poor white Southerners also had limited education but were not held to the same strict standards.

Answer:

1. By engaging in corrupt business and political practices taking advantage of post - Civil War instability.
2. Provided food, housing, medical care, education, legal assistance, helped find employment and negotiate labor contracts.
3. By setting high and selectively enforced reading and writing requirements that disproportionately affected African Americans due to their lack of access to education during slavery.
4. Demanding "education qualification" for African Americans to vote while not applying the same strict standards to poorly - educated white Southerners.