Which development best demonstrates Henry Grady's vision for the South?

Henry Grady, a prominent journalist and orator in the late 19th century, is best known for advocating for the economic modernization of the South following the Civil War. He envisioned a "New South" that would transition from a reliance on agriculture, particularly cotton, to a more diversified economy that included industrial growth.

The development of Birmingham, Alabama, as a leading steel producer is a clear manifestation of Grady's vision. Birmingham's emergence as a major center for steel production symbolizes the shift towards industrialization and economic diversification that Grady proposed. This industrial growth not only aimed to elevate the economic status of the South but also sought to break the region's dependence on agriculture, thereby integrating it more fully into the national economy.

Other developments, such as increased agricultural exports and the expansion of textile mills, while important, do not fully encapsulate Grady’s call for industrialization. The increase in agricultural cooperatives also does not directly align with the specific shift in focus from agriculture to a broader industrial base. Thus, the growth of Birmingham as a steel production hub distinctly aligns with Grady's aspirations for a transformed South.