Cotton Gin
Definition
The cotton gin is a machine that was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 to separate cotton fibers from their seeds, which significantly sped up the process of producing cotton.
Analogy
Think of the cotton gin like a super-efficient kitchen gadget. Just as a food processor can chop onions much faster than you could by hand, the cotton gin could clean cotton much faster than human workers.
Related terms
Plantation System: This refers to the division of land into smaller units under private ownership. It became popular in the American South during the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly for growing cash crops like tobacco and cotton.
Industrial Revolution: A period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840 when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport, and technology had a profound effect on socioeconomic conditions starting in Britain then spreading throughout Europe and America.
Slavery: A system where individuals known as slaves are treated as property to be bought, sold and worked forcibly. In America's history it played an integral role in its economic growth especially after invention of Cotton Gin which increased demand for slave labor.
"Cotton Gin" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (3)
Practice Questions (17)
Who invented the cotton gin?
What was the primary purpose of the cotton gin?
What were some of the negative consequences of the cotton gin?
The development of the cotton gin ______ the supply and demand of cotton.
What might have happened if the Cotton Gin hadn't been invented during the Industrial Revolution?
What was the impact of the cotton gin on the Southern economy during the Early Republic?
How did Eli Whitney's invention of cotton gin influence Southern economy during the early republic period?
Who is credited with the invention of the cotton gin, which revolutionized American cotton production during the Market Revolution?
Who is the inventor credited with the invention of the cotton gin, which revolutionized southern agriculture?
Who is primarily associated with inventing the cotton gin, a significant technological advancement during the Age of Reform?
What was one impact of the Cotton Gin invented by Eli Whitney on Southern economy?
What might have been the impact on the South's agrarian economy had Eli Whitney chosen not to share his invention of the cotton gin?
What conflict resulted from the invention of the cotton gin in 1793?
What was a significant societal impact of the introduction of the cotton gin in the late 18th century?
How might America's agricultural industry be different if Eli Whitney had not invented the cotton gin?
Who invented the cotton gin, significantly impacting Southern economy and intensifying slavery?
Which inventor is credited with developing the cotton gin in the late-18th century?
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