What did the growth of the steel industry and cotton mills in the south in the late 1800s suggest?

A new approach to the economy was developing in the South. (APEX Class ;)

It suggested that the South was adopting a new approach to the economy  

The cotton gin and the steel industry changed the south because slaves did not have to do as much work as was the case in the past. The cotton mills enabled the southerners to produce more cotton

what are the options ?