New South

New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a slogan in the history of the Southern United States, first used during the Reconstruction era after the American Civil War. Reformers of that period used the term to call for a modernization of Southern society and attitudes, an integration more fully with the United States as a whole, and a rejection of the economy and traditions of the Old South and the slavery-based plantation system of the prewar period while still maintaining white supremacy through Jim Crow laws and political disenfranchisement. The term was coined by its leading proponent, The Atlanta Constitution editor Henry W. Grady, in 1874.

In the mid-20th century, the meaning of the term evolved as the Civil Rights Movement challenged segregation and white dominance. The dismantling of Jim Crow laws, economic diversification, and increasing urbanization led to a more racially inclusive and economically competitive South. This period concurrently saw the emergence of African American political power, the growth of cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, and Houston, and the rise of industries beyond agriculture.