Which group was characterized as seeking economic opportunity in the South after the Civil War?

The group characterized as seeking economic opportunity in the South after the Civil War is Carpetbaggers. Following the war, many individuals from the North migrated to the Southern states, driven by the potential for economic advancement during the Reconstruction era. These newcomers often took advantage of the rebuilding process, including opportunities in businesses, agriculture, and politics. The term "Carpetbaggers" was used, often pejoratively, to describe these individuals, implying they were opportunists who sought to profit from the South's recovery and its new social and political landscape.

In contrast, Scalawags were usually Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party, often seen as traitors by other whites in the South. Reconstructionists refers more broadly to individuals or policies focused on the reconstruction of the South, rather than a specific group pursuing economic gain. Plainsmen typically refers to people living in the Great Plains region, which was largely unrelated to the socio-economic dynamics in the Southern states during this period.