Answer :
The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, significantly expedited the process of separating cotton seeds from fiber, increasing productivity from one pound to fifty pounds of processed cotton per day.
The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 by Eli Whitney marked a significant milestone in agricultural history. This mechanical device vastly improved the efficiency of cotton processing by swiftly separating the cotton fibers from the seeds. The cotton gin enabled a laborer to process about fifty pounds of cotton per day, compared to the mere one pound achievable by hand.
By 1820s, Mississippi and east Texas emerged as leading producers, overtaking South Carolina. This leap in production meant that by the 1840s, the South was providing over 60 percent of the global supply. This boom in cotton farming also coincided with a transportation revolution, making it easier and quicker to transport goods from farms to markets, which was reinforced by advancements in steam power and the development of ports along the Atlantic coast.
Eli Whitney's hope that the cotton gin would render slavery obsolete was unfortunately not realized; instead, the device inadvertently caused a surge in the demand for slave labor due to the increased profit potential of cotton farming. Despite this, the gin's contribution to industrial practices—like Whitney's idea of interchangeable parts—catalyzed a broader industrial revolution, affecting not only agriculture but also manufacturing sectors like firearms and beyond.