Final answer:
The correct answer to the question is option b. Southern farms were devastated by conflict during the Civil War. They faced crop disruption, supply shortages, and economic deprivation, further worsened by the Union blockade that contributed to inflation and struggles for civilians.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Civil War, southern farms faced numerous hardships due to the conflict. Devastated by conflict. The agricultural economy was greatly affected as many farmers still focused on cash crops like tobacco and cotton, which were stored for later sale rather than growing food. These crops could sometimes be sold for income, as was the case with tobacco farmer Joel Lax, but this was not the general experience. Other areas saw their crop production disrupted by the marching of opposing armies and the confiscation of food by the Confederate government to feed the troops.
In addition to these challenges, Southern cities faced economic deprivation, with rising populations and limited options for producing food, often resulting in starvation among civilians. Many farms and planters, already 'land poor', struggled with reduced farm production and shortages of supplies due to the war. Prices for essential goods like salt skyrocketed, and the blockade of Southern ports by the Union Navy further exacerbated shortages of goods, contributing to inflation and economic struggle across the South.