Final answer:
The Southern society's dependency on slavery, economic reliance on cotton exports hindered by the Union blockade, internal dissent, class divisions, and racial tensions, along with an overall lesser population and industrial capacity, significantly contributed to the Confederacy's defeat during the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social, economic, and class differences in Southern society contributed significantly to the Confederacy's defeat in the Civil War. One of the fundamental issues was the Confederate economy, which depended heavily on cotton exports.
However, due to the Union's naval blockade, this economy was crippled, preventing cotton export to international markets and resulting in a lack of funds which led to runaway inflation. Furthermore, the South's limited industrial capacity and inadequate railroad infrastructure hampered their ability to move men and supplies.
Another aspect was the social structure, which rested upon slavery and white supremacy. The social order was upended when slavery was abolished, and this transition contributed to chaos and weakened the South internally.
Additionally, there was significant dissent within the Confederacy itself. States' rights advocates resisted giving the central government the power it needed to effectively wage war, causing internal conflicts and lack of uniform support for the war effort.
Class divisions further exacerbated these issues wherein poor White people resented the wealthier class's ability to avoid military service. Racial tensions also were rife, especially considering the reluctance to arm African Americans or utilize their support effectively in the Confederate army, for fear of insurrections.
With a population of less than nine million, nearly four million of whom were enslaved, as opposed to the North's twenty million, the South's manpower shortages became an overwhelming challenge as the war continued.