What was distinctive about New Orleans that made it such a different A

What was distinctive about New Orleans that made it such a different American city compared to others in the United States?

A) Its citizens were a cosmopolitan mix with permissive and progressive attitudes about race and sexuality and a cultural diversity unmatched by any other American city.
B) It had a much smaller percentage of free people of African origin than in cities of other bordering southern states.
C) It was very unwelcoming to black women and mixed-race people who wanted to become involved in commerce and engage in intimate relationships with those of other races.
D) It was a southern city that relied heavily on commerce that traveled down the Mississippi River and used slave labor.

ANSWER
Answer: A