18th Century Cotton Exchange

The 18th-century Cotton Exchange was a marketplace where traders bought and sold cotton, a key raw material for textiles. During this period, cotton manufacturing grew rapidly, driven by innovations like the spinning jenny and water frame. The exchange facilitated trade, established prices, and connected producers in regions like the American South with mills in Europe. It played a crucial role in the expansion of the global cotton industry, which also relied heavily on slave labor. Overall, it was a central hub that helped coordinate and regulate the booming cotton trade during a time of significant industrial and economic change.