High School

The introduction of the cotton gin meant that enslaved workers on Southern plantations no longer had to:



A. weave cotton cloth.

B. plant cotton.

C. harvest cotton.

D. pick cotton seeds.

Answer :

Final answer:

The cotton gin, introduced in 1794, significantly increased the efficiency of cotton processing by removing seeds from cotton fiber. This innovation did not eliminate the need for enslaved workers to plant, harvest, or pick cotton, but rather increased the reliance on slave labor for larger-scale production. Ultimately, the cotton gin led to intensified demands for cotton cultivation and the perpetuation of slavery in the South.


Explanation:

Impact of the Cotton Gin on Enslaved Labor

The introduction of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1794 revolutionized the cotton industry in the Southern United States. This machine significantly increased the efficiency of cotton processing, allowing for faster removal of cotton seeds from the fiber. As a result, the labor demand for picking cotton seeds was drastically reduced.

The cotton gin did not eliminate the need for enslaved workers to plant cotton, harvest cotton, or pick cotton itself; rather, it streamlined the process of preparing the cotton for market. This led to a greater emphasis on large-scale cotton production, which ultimately intensified the demand for enslaved labor on plantations. Consequently, while the cotton gin transformed certain aspects of the labor process, it actually created a greater dependence on slavery in the agricultural economy.


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