Why 'carpet-bagger'?

The term ‘carpet-bagger’ is a cultural epithet coined during Reconstruction. As such, some history of Reconstruction is necessary to understand its roots. From a linguistic standpoint, the term ‘carpet-bagger’ is a morphological derivation from ‘carpet bag’, which was a type of lightweight luggage in common use at the time. The term’s inherent basis in this object aptly suggests that examining the history of the carpet bag itself can deepen our understanding.

Much of this section is derived from the "Nation of Carpetbaggers" article from the Journal of American history which is listed in the references. For a more comprehensive history than is reproduced here, I strongly recommend reading this piece.