cottton gin

The cotton gin is a machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that efficiently separates cotton fibers from their seeds. Before its invention, this process was labor-intensive and slow, limiting cotton production. The gin uses rollers and brushes to quickly remove seeds from cotton fibers, making the process much faster. This innovation significantly boosted cotton production in the United States, supporting the growth of the textile industry. While it greatly increased efficiency, it also led to a rise in slavery on cotton plantations due to the increased demand for labor.