Question 9 saved what was a key reason for the south's defeat in the civil war? question 9 options: the confederacy lacked a single competent general to lead its troops. southern planters were reluctant to start growing food crops instead of cash crops. confederate armies lacked the conviction to fight a prolonged war with the north. the south was too industrialized to adapt well to a wartime economy. the northern troops were better individual soldiers than confederate troops.