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A '''scalawag''' was a white southerner during [[Reconstruction]] in the U.S. 1863-1877, who supported the Republican party and its coalition of Freedmen (freed slaves), [[Carpetbaggers]] (northerners), and scalawags.

A '''scalawag''' was a white southerner during [[Reconstruction]] in the U.S. 1863-1877, who supported the Republican party and its coalition of Freedmen (freed slaves), [[Carpetbaggers]] (northerners), and scalawags.

Scalawags were men who could honestly take "[[ironclad oath]", which was a key device for the removal of ex-Confederates from the political arena. the oath required a white male to swear they had never borne arms against the Union or supported the Confederacy. Specifically they swore they "never voluntarily borne arms against the United States," had "voluntarily" given "no aid, countenance, counsel or encouragement" to persons in rebellion and had exercised or attempted to exercise the functions of no office under the Confederacy.  Men who took the oath were eligible for office and were called [[Scalawags]]--an insulting term at the time now generally used by scholars.

Scalawags were men who could honestly take "[[ironclad oath]]", which was a key device for the removal of ex-Confederates from the political arena. the oath required a white male to swear they had never borne arms against the Union or supported the Confederacy. Specifically they swore they "never voluntarily borne arms against the United States," had "voluntarily" given "no aid, countenance, counsel or encouragement" to persons in rebellion and had exercised or attempted to exercise the functions of no office under the Confederacy.  Men who took the oath were eligible for office and were called [[Scalawags]]--an insulting term at the time now generally used by scholars.

[[Category:Reconstruction]]

[[Category:Reconstruction]]