Answer :
Final answer:
Removing seeds from one pound of cotton took a laborer an entire day before the invention of the cotton gin, which allowed for the processing of up to fifty pounds in the same time. The cotton gin significantly increased cotton production, helping the U.S. become a major supplier of cotton by the mid-19th century. Overall, the cotton gin transformed cotton into a cash crop, reshaping the economy of the Southern United States.
Explanation:
Cotton Production and the Cotton Gin
The process of removing seeds from one pound of cotton by hand was an extremely tedious task, taking a laborer about a full day to accomplish. In contrast, the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 revolutionized this process, enabling one laborer to extract seeds from up to fifty pounds of cotton in a single day. This dramatic increase in efficiency transformed cotton into a viable cash crop for the Southern economy.
Impact of the Cotton Gin on Cotton Production
The impact of the cotton gin was profound, leading to a sharp increase in cotton production. From 1800 to 1820, cotton production surged from approximately 73,000 bales to 730,000 bales, with the U.S. producing roughly 68 percent of the world's cotton supply by mid-century. This rapid expansion facilitated the rise of short-staple cotton, especially in the South, adapting to meet growing international demand and altering the agricultural landscape of the region dramatically.
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