Answer :
Final answer:
The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, made it significantly easier to remove seeds from cotton, thus accelerating cotton production. This invention allowed workers to process much larger quantities of cotton compared to hand labor. As a result, cotton became a major cash crop in the southern United States, leading to widespread economic changes.
Explanation:
Impact of the Cotton Gin
The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 significantly transformed the process of cotton production. The cotton gin made it easier to remove the seeds from cotton, allowing for much greater efficiency in production.
Before the invention of the cotton gin, workers could only process about one pound of cotton per day by hand. With the gin, one laborer could handle about fifty pounds a day, increasing production speed dramatically. This efficiency and the ability to produce large quantities of cotton at a much faster rate contributed to cotton becoming a dominant cash crop in the southern United States.
Consequences of Increased Production
The increase in cotton production spurred economic growth and led to an expansion of slavery to meet the new demand for labor. The cotton economy also influenced migration patterns and settlements as farmers sought out suitable land for the cheaper, more productive short staple cotton.
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