The term refers to the economic shift and societal evolution that some hoped for in the Southern United States following the Civil War and Reconstruction. This vision promoted industrialization, diversification of agriculture, and reconciliation between the North and South. Proponents sought to move beyond the plantation-based economy dependent on enslaved labor that had defined the pre-war South.
Advocates believed this transformation was essential for the South to achieve economic parity with the North and to fully reintegrate into the nation. A key benefit was the potential for economic growth through industries like textiles and manufacturing, creating new opportunities for both white and Black Southerners. The historical context includes the devastation of the Southern economy after the Civil War, the failure of Reconstruction to address underlying social and economic inequalities, and the emergence of a new generation of Southern leaders.
