Answer :
Final answer:
The primary problem with cotton production prior to the cotton gin was the difficulty in removing seeds from cotton, which made it labor-intensive and costly. Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin significantly improved this process, allowing for increased production and profitability. This transformation made cotton a leading cash crop in the southern United States.
Explanation:
Primary Problem with Cotton Production
Before the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, the difficulty in removing seeds from cotton was the primary problem with cotton production. The process was labor-intensive and time-consuming, making it challenging to profit from cotton farming, especially the short staple cotton, which had shorter fibers and seeds that were harder to extract compared to the long staple variety. As a result, the high cost of labor made it less feasible for farmers to produce cotton in large quantities, essentially limiting their ability to enter the growing market during that period.
After Whitney's invention, which enabled faster processing of cotton—approximately 50 times quicker—farmers could efficiently produce more cotton at a lower cost. This revolutionized the cotton industry in the southern United States, leading to a dramatic increase in production and making cotton a dominant cash crop.
Learn more about cotton production here:
https://brainly.com/question/51523959