Final answer:
Henry Grady's 'New South' envisioned a diversified economy through the promotion of industry and agriculture, with education and infrastructure improvements, moving away from the plantation system. The New South aimed to emulate the economic success of other regions while facing challenges such as racial prejudices and rebuilding after the war.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry Grady's term “New South” described his vision for the post-Civil War Southern states, advocating for a transformation in Southern society and economy. Grady promoted the idea that the South should diversify its economy by combining industry and agriculture, thereby emulating the economic success of the North and West.
He believed in the importance of education and the growth of infrastructure such as railroads to ensure that the South could compete nationally. Grady's “New South” called for investment in individual family farms rather than the plantation system, the encouragement of factories, and greater democracy following the end of slavery.
However, this vision faced challenges, including the South's existing racial prejudices, the economic disadvantages resulting from the war, and the need to overcome the region's reputation for an economy centered on plantation agriculture.