Introduction
The introduction of the New South economy and its rise had a significant impact not only on the region’s industrial development but also on the Southern society. The question of whether that system was fair, especially for poor white and black workers, is still open. This essay will explore the issue of fairness in the New South economy by addressing the matter’s political, economic, and social aspects.
Main body
To ensure the correct evaluation of the New South economy system, one should learn about the political background of the period. Although a new economic system was introduced to develop the region, due to the domination of the Democratic Party, the idea of the Solid South emerged and became widespread (Goldfield et al. 17:1). The state of Solid South prevented black people from political power, and equal rights and isolated black southerners from white southerners.
In the process of industrialization, the labor market of the South became attractive to Northern business people and investors because of the high rural birthrate and, consequently, depressed wages. Southern industrial workers earned almost half of the national average wage, as a result, they spent a minimal amount on locally manufactured goods, which impacted the market in a negative way (Goldfield et al. 17.1.2). Although low wages were attractive to business owners, the low income of the population and low level of tax payments resulted in problems with public education and a decline in population education level (Goldfield et al. 17.1.2). As civil war drained all of the South’s capital and resources, low income combined with a low level of education resulted in a lowered quality of living for the South population. The region was forced to produce cheap goods as a significant part of the population could only pay for low-quality goods. The unfairness of the situation in which Northern companies and businesses utilized cheap labor from the South but never took care of the Southern economy resulted in the region being isolated from technological progress and an educated workforce.
The population showed disapproval of industrialization and blurring of racial distinctions and associated them with Yankee values. The new generation of young white people raised on the myth of the Lost Cause who were now competing for jobs with black people decided to move their hate from Yankees to black people (Goldfield et al. 17.4.2). The growth of the economy was accompanied by the growth in the cities, where black and white people now lived in close contact. The white southerners imposed unspoken rules on black southerners, by which black people were not allowed to prosper or challenge white authority. White mobs lynched the violators of the rule, and the lynchers were reported to be “working-class whites with rural roots, who were struggling in the depressed economy” enraged by the race fluidity of urban settings (Goldfield et al. 17.4.3). The matter resulted in the introduction of segregation law and the disfranchisement of voting for black people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay explored the issue of fairness in the New South Economy and its impact on the population. The rise of the New South Economy resulted in several consequences, positive and negative for the population and mostly negative for poor white and black workers. Although the system introduced new opportunities for people, the low wages exploited by northern investors resulted in a decline in the educational level and reduced the quality of life of the Southern population. As a result, in new urban conditions, where black and white people are contacted every day, the new generation of white people previously oppressed with financial struggles expressed violence against black people.
Work Cited
Goldfield, David, et al. The American Journey: A History of the United States, Volume 2 (Since 1865). 8th ed., Pearson, 2016.