- Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793 revolutionized the cotton industry.
- The cotton gin was a simple but effective machine that made it much easier to separate cotton fibers from their seeds, greatly increasing the productivity of cotton cultivation.
- Previously, this process had to be done manually, which was extremely time-consuming and required extensive labor.
Expansion of Slavery
- With the increased cultivation of cotton, the demand for plantation labor escalated considerably. Plantation owners in the Southern United States began importing an increased number of enslaved individuals to meet the workforce demands and sustain productivity in their farming operations.
Land Availability
- The Southern states boasted vast tracts of undeveloped and highly fertile land that was suitable for cultivating cotton.
- As the cotton industry's profitability soared, there was an incentive for plantation owners to acquire more land, expand their cotton monoculture, and maximize profits by capitalizing on abundant natural resources in hitherto uncultivated territories.