The Cotton Gin: a Catalyst for Change in Early America
Words: 841 1289In the late 18th century, the American South faced a significant challenge: cotton, though a potentially lucrative crop, required labor-intensive processing to separate the fibers from the seeds. Enter Eli Whitney, a New England inventor who revolutionized agriculture with his creation of the cotton gin in 1793. This invention did more than just simplify a tedious task—it catalyzed profound economic, social, and technological changes that shaped the nation. Before the cotton gin, cotton production was a painstaking process. Workers had […]