AP U.S. History Practice Quiz: The “New South”
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 9 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 9
All Questions (9)
A) It was primarily based on agriculture through systems like sharecropping.
B) It fully transitioned to an industrial model, abandoning agriculture.
C) It was equally divided between manufacturing and tenant farming.
D) It saw the complete collapse of both its agricultural and industrial sectors.
Correct Answer: A
The text explicitly states that 'despite the industrialization of some segments...agriculture based on sharecropping and tenant farming continued to be the primary economic activity.'
A) The promotion of industrialization in the 'New South'.
B) The upholding of racial segregation as a legal principle.
C) The expansion of political gains for African Americans.
D) The end of the sharecropping system in the Southern economy.
Correct Answer: B
The text states, 'The Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson that upheld racial segregation helped to mark the end of most political gains African Americans made during Reconstruction.'
A) A return to the pre-Reconstruction social order.
B) The complete elimination of agriculture.
C) Increased industrialization of the Southern economy.
D) The reinforcement of political gains made by African Americans.
Correct Answer: C
The text mentions 'the industrialization of some segments of the Southern economy—a change promoted by leaders who called for a “New South”', indicating that these leaders advocated for industrial growth.
A) The consistent protection of African American political rights.
B) The dominance of an agricultural economy based on tenant farming.
C) A rapid and successful shift to a fully industrial economy.
D) A social structure free from racial discrimination.
Correct Answer: B
The text highlights continuity by stating that despite calls for a 'New South,' 'agriculture based on sharecropping and tenant farming continued to be the primary economic activity.'
A) They ceased all efforts to achieve equality.
B) They focused exclusively on economic advancement.
C) They continued to fight for political and social equality.
D) They successfully overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision immediately.
Correct Answer: C
The text explicitly states that 'African American reformers continued to fight for political and social equality' despite facing significant challenges.
A) complete social and political equality for all citizens.
B) uninterrupted economic prosperity driven by agriculture.
C) conflict between the vision of an industrialized 'New South' and the reality of a segregated, agrarian society.
D) successful and total rejection of all industrial development in favor of traditional farming.
Correct Answer: C
The provided text describes the tension between the push for industrialization ('New South') and the continuation of an agricultural economy and the rise of segregation, which reflects a conflict between vision and reality.
A) end of the sharecropping and tenant farming systems.
B) loss of most political gains achieved during Reconstruction.
C) successful implementation of widespread social equality.
D) decrease in violence and racial discrimination.
Correct Answer: B
The text notes that Plessy v. Ferguson 'helped to mark the end of most political gains African Americans made during Reconstruction,' which was a significant negative change for them.
A) Scientific racism
B) Forced relocation to industrial centers
C) The abolition of agricultural jobs
D) Federal mandates requiring political participation
Correct Answer: A
The text explicitly lists the challenges faced by African Americans as 'increased violence, discrimination, and scientific racism.'
A) African American reformers successfully blocked all industrialization.
B) the federal government outlawed the development of new industries in the region.
C) the agricultural economy and a rigid social hierarchy of segregation remained dominant.
D) all Southern leaders unanimously agreed to maintain a purely agrarian society.
Correct Answer: C
The text implies the 'New South' vision was limited by describing two powerful continuities: the persistence of an agricultural economy (sharecropping) and the legal establishment of racial segregation (Plessy v. Ferguson), which worked against the idea of a completely transformed region.