Answer :
Final answer:
The cotton gin removes the seeds from cotton, enhancing production efficiency. This innovation led to an increased demand for slaves as plantation owners required more labor to handle the booming cotton industry. Overall, the cotton gin significantly impacted the agricultural economy and labor practices in the southern U.S.
Explanation:
The Cotton Gin and Its Impact
The cotton gin is a machine that revolutionized the processing of cotton by effectively removing the seeds from the cotton fiber. Invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, this device increased the efficiency of cotton production, allowing for greater quantities of cotton to be processed in a shorter time frame. As a result, the demand for cotton skyrocketed, leading to significant changes in the agricultural economy of the southern United States.
Increased Demand for Labor
Alongside the rise in cotton production, there was also an increased demand for slaves, as plantation owners sought more labor to cultivate and harvest the cotton. The use of the cotton gin made cotton a highly profitable crop, which in turn entrenched the institution of slavery in the southern economy. The reliance on enslaved labor grew as the cotton industry expanded, leading to dire social and economic consequences that would impact the United States deeply.
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