Question 1

The term Solid South refers to:

Accepted Answer

The term "Solid South" refers to the period after the Reconstruction era until the mid-20th century when the Democratic Party had almost complete control and dominance over political offices in the Southern United States.

Question 2

For the last two decades of the nineteenth century and much of the twentieth century, the Republican Party had the least success in the:

Accepted Answer

During the last two decades of the nineteenth century and much of the twentieth century, the Republican Party struggled to gain support in the South due to the region's strong Democratic leanings, a legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

Question 3

Important emerging industries in the New South included all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Processed chemicals were not a major emerging industry in the New South, unlike textiles, railroad construction, and tobacco.

Question 4

What modern-day commodity became successful in the South by the early 1900s?

Accepted Answer

Coca-Cola, invented in the late 19th century, became a successful commodity in the South by the early 1900s, establishing itself as a major part of American culture and the global beverage industry.

Question 5

Between 1870 and 1900 in the South, urban-area population:

Accepted Answer

Between 1870 and 1900, the South experienced significant urbanization, leading to relatively quick growth in the population of urban areas. This was part of a broader trend of industrialization and urbanization occurring in the United States during this period.

Question 6

Around the turn of the twentieth century, wages in the South:

Accepted Answer

At the turn of the twentieth century, wages in the South were generally lower than those in the North. This was due to a variety of factors, including the South's slower recovery from the Civil War, its more agrarian economy, and less industrial development compared to the North.

Question 7

Per capita income in the South as a percentage of the national average was highest in:

Accepted Answer

In 1860, the South's per capita income was at its peak relative to the national average, largely due to the economic value generated by its agricultural sector, particularly cotton, which was highly profitable at the time.

Question 8

Low farm incomes in the New South resulted in:

Accepted Answer

Low farm incomes in the New South contributed to the creation of a large labor force for new industries, as many individuals sought better economic opportunities outside of the struggling agricultural sector. This shift helped fuel the South's industrial growth.

Question 9

Industrialism in the New South:

Accepted Answer

Industrialism in the New South did not match the pace of the North's industrial economy, as the South struggled to diversify and grow its industrial base after the Civil War.

Question 10

Which statement about women in the New South is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

The statement that is NOT true about women in the New South is that their new roles significantly changed prevailing views about the role of women. While women did take on new roles in the workforce and in civic activities, these changes did not fundamentally alter the traditional views on women's roles in society during that time period.

Question 11

All of the following are true about the textile industry in the New South EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Most textile factories in the New South were actually located in rural or small-town areas rather than urban centers, and they were more common in the Piedmont region of the South rather than the Upper South. This facilitated access to cheap labor and reduced costs associated with urban settings.

Question 12

Many middle-class reformers objected to industrial labor because they disliked:

Accepted Answer

Many middle-class reformers were concerned about the impact of industrial labor on individual and family life, including the long hours, poor working conditions, and the disruption of traditional family roles and community structures.

Question 13

Traditional southerners felt that urban development in the South was:

Accepted Answer

Traditional southerners often viewed urban development as evidence of Northern influence and domination, which they were historically resistant to due to cultural and economic differences.

Question 14

After the Civil War, farmers from the South:

Accepted Answer

After the Civil War, Southern farmers grew more cotton but faced declining prices due to overproduction and international competition, leading to less income.

Question 15

Which statement about cotton in the late 1800s of the New South is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

Growing more cotton would not have bolstered sagging prices; it would have exacerbated the problem by increasing supply further, potentially leading to even lower prices.

Question 16

Of the following, which is NOT a true statement about southern farmers and their fight to improve their circumstances from the 1870s to the 1890s?

Accepted Answer

The statement that southern farmers struggled to become better educated so they wouldn't have to work the farm forever is not accurate in the context of their primary efforts to improve their circumstances from the 1870s to the 1890s. Their main strategies included engaging in barter, supplementing income with off-farm jobs, and forming organizations to lobby for changes beneficial to their economic conditions, rather than focusing on education as a means to leave farming.

Question 17

The main reason for low cotton prices in the 1890s was:

Accepted Answer

The main reason for low cotton prices in the 1890s was overproduction, which led to a surplus of cotton in the market, causing prices to fall.

Question 18

The leaders of the Grange:

Accepted Answer

The Grange, formally known as the Patrons of Husbandry, was founded in 1867 to advance the social and economic needs of farmers. Its leaders often came from the more prosperous segments of the farming community, as these individuals had the resources and education to organize and lead such a movement. The Grange focused on issues like cooperative buying and selling to bypass middlemen, and while it sought various reforms, its leadership did not typically align with the Socialist Party nor was it primarily composed of Democratic representatives in Congress. Its agenda did include financial reforms, but ending the credit system outright was not its central focus.

Question 19

The powerful Southern Farmers' Alliance had its origins in:

Accepted Answer

The Southern Farmers' Alliance, a key organization in the late 19th century advocating for the interests of agrarian workers in the South, originated in Texas during the 1870s. It aimed to address the economic struggles of farmers by advocating for cooperative buying and selling, and it played a significant role in the rise of the Populist movement.

Question 20

Which description is the best portrayal of the Southern Farmers' Alliance?

Accepted Answer

The Southern Farmers' Alliance was an organization that emphasized traditional southern values and aimed at improving the economic conditions of farmers through cooperative ventures and mutual support, rather than focusing primarily on political or urbanization efforts.

Quiz 17: A New South: Economic Progress and Social Tradition 1877-1900