The Invention of the Cotton Gin and Its Impact on Slavery
Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin in 1794 transformed the American cotton industry by drastically increasing production efficiency. However, it also fueled the expansion of slavery in the South. This essay examines how the cotton gin intensified the demand for enslaved labor, the justifications Southerners gave for slavery, and the reasons behind limited open slave resistance. It also explores the harsh living conditions of enslaved people, concluding that the cotton gin’s unintended consequence was the entrenchment of systemic human exploitation.
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Reference
StudyCorgi. (2025, May 1). The Invention of the Cotton Gin and Its Impact on Slavery. https://studycorgi.video/the-invention-of-the-cotton-gin-and-its-impact-on-slavery/