High School

Eli Whitney invented a machine called the cotton gin. Before this, seeds in cotton had to be picked out by hand. The cotton gin separated the seeds from the cotton fibers, and cotton was processed more quickly.

Which of the following was a result of this invention?

A. Farmers did not need to grow as much cotton.
B. Slaves were replaced by the new machinery.
C. Farmers began to hire labor to work the fields.
D. More slaves were needed to pick cotton.

Answer :

The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney increased the demand for slave labor to keep up with the boosted productivity in cotton processing, as more slaves were needed to pick the increased cotton production. Therefore, the correct option is D

The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 led to a significant increase in cotton production due to its ability to efficiently remove seeds from cotton fibers. Contrary to what Whitney hoped, the increased efficiency in processing cotton actually led to a higher demand for both cotton and the labor required to plant, cultivate, and harvest it. As a result, the correct answer to the question of which following result was a direct consequence of this invention would be More slaves were needed to pick cotton (Option D).

While it made cotton processing more efficient, the cotton gin did not eliminate the need for human labor. Instead, it increased cotton's profitability, which then led to an expansion of cotton farming and, consequently, an increased demand for the labor of enslaved people to work the fields. Whitney's invention, despite its initial promise to reduce the reliance on slavery, ultimately entrenched the institution even deeper into the Southern economy.