Question

Since the civil war devastated the south, opportunities to acquire cheap land increased. former slaves and white southerners alike lacked the means to take advantage of the ruin, but an enterprising person could thrive. whose point of view is best reflected in these lines?

Answer 1

This passage best reflects the point of view of a slave owner. While the passage does admit that poorer individuals lacked the opportunities to take advantage of the cheap land prices after the war, the fact that the passage states that an "enterprising" person could in fact thrive suggests that the writer places some blame on those individuals lacking opportunities, suggesting that they just didn't try hard enough.