What did white Southerners think the goal was of all Northerners who moved south during
Reconstruction?
White Southerners had varying views on the goals of Northerners who moved south during Reconstruction. Some saw these Northerners, who were often called "carpetbaggers," as opportunists who were seeking personal gain and wealth by taking advantage of the South's economic and political instability. They believed that these Northerners were looking to exploit the South and its resources.
Others saw the main goal of the Northerners as political. They believed that these individuals, along with the native-born Southern Republicans (also known as "scalawags"), were working to establish and consolidate Republican power in the South. They viewed these efforts as an extension of the Northern Republican Party's agenda to maintain control and influence over the reunited nation.
There was also a perception among some white Southerners that the Northerners aimed to enforce radical changes in Southern society, particularly in relation to race relations. They believed that these individuals wanted to dismantle the old order of white supremacy and empower African Americans, leading to social upheaval and a loss of white Southern dominance.
Overall, the perception among many white Southerners was that the goal of Northerners who moved south during Reconstruction was to assert Northern dominance, exploit the region, and enact radical changes that threatened their way of life.