Final answer:
Option 3 is correct; soldiers during the Civil War disrupted the geography and caused significant hardship to people in the South through plundering, spreading disease, and damaging the agricultural economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing how soldiers affected the geography and people, particularly in the South during the Civil War, historians indicate that their presence and actions generally caused significant disruptions. Movements and encampments of large armies across the southern lands often resulted in plundering of property, confiscation of supplies, and damaging agricultural areas by transforming them into battlefields. With the South being primarily agrarian, the impact on plantations was detrimental to the economy. The war not only disrupted the geography but also caused hardships for the people within these regions. Civilians suffered as the soldiers' presence often led to the spread of disease, a shortage of supplies due to confiscations and plundering, and the destruction of crops and infrastructure.
Based on this information, Option 3: 'The soldiers disrupted the geography and caused hardship' is the most accurate response. The emotional and physical toll of the Civil War was felt across the South, affecting civilians, changing social dynamics and causing a seismic shift in the economic landscape. The movement of soldiers and their activities during the Civil War had a significant impact on both the geography and the people of the South.