In what ways wa the economy of the new south different from and similar to the economy of the past

After the Civil War ended and Reconstruction began, there were many changes in the South. One of those changes dealt with the economy of the South. Before the Civil War, the South had very little industry. Because of the mild climate and fertile soil, the vast majority of southerners were farmers. They grew various products including tobacco, wheat, rice, and cotton. By 1860, cotton became the main exported product of the southern farmers.