Question

Which inference can most reasonably be made based on the information provided in A Diary from Dixie, Casualties and Costs of the Civil War, and The Ruins of Richmond, Virginia?

A. The Confederacy's infrastructure remained largely intact during the war.
B. Both the Union and the Confederacy were economically destroyed by the war.
C. The Confederacy began losing its spirit and strength toward the end of the war.
D. The Confederacy's surrender to the Union did not solve the problems caused by the war.

Answer 1

The most reasonable inference is that the Confederacy began losing its spirit and strength toward the end of the war, supported by hardships, economic difficulties, and military defeats.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the information provided in A Diary from Dixie, Casualties and Costs of the Civil War, and The Ruins of Richmond, Virginia, the most reasonable inference that can be made is that the Confederacy began losing its spirit and strength toward the end of the war. This can be supported by several factors.

1. The Confederacy experienced ever-greater hardships after years of war, including a shortage of manpower, lack of industry, rampant inflation, and food shortages, which lowered morale.
2. The South's economy heavily depended on cotton exports, but the naval blockade and lack of commerce caused by the war led to economic difficulties and shortage of funds.
3. The Confederate armies were defeated, Southern farms and towns were destroyed, and Southern civilians became refugees, which further weakened the Confederacy.

Based on these factors, it can be inferred that the Confederacy's strength and spirit deteriorated as the war progressed.