Whitney's Cotton Gin

Whitney's Cotton Gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, is a machine that quickly separates cotton fibers from their seeds. Before the gin, this process was extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive. The device uses a system of rotating cylinders and wire teeth to efficiently clean cotton, enabling faster processing and expanding cotton farming. Whitney's invention greatly increased cotton production in the United States, influencing the economy and the growth of textile industries, but also contributed to the expansion of slavery due to the higher demand for labor-intensive cotton harvesting.