A device invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that automated the process of separating cotton fiber from its seeds. This invention dramatically increased the speed of cotton processing, making cotton production far more efficient and profitable. As a key development in the burgeoning textile industry, it had a profound impact on the American economy and society.
The increased efficiency spurred a significant expansion of cotton cultivation in the Southern United States, leading to a greater demand for enslaved labor. This reliance on enslaved labor solidified the South’s agricultural economy and contributed to the growing sectional tensions between the North and South that ultimately led to the Civil War. The economic benefits derived from the device reinforced and expanded the institution of slavery, making it a pivotal factor in American history.