Always Has Been: Chapter 1: Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin

In 1793, Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin revolutionized agriculture by markedly enhancing the efficiency of cotton processing. This device streamlined the tedious task of removing seeds from cotton fiber, previously a manual and laborious process. The cotton gin catalyzed the large-scale economic viability of cotton production, profoundly impacting the textile industry, especially in the southern U.S. Its influence extended globally, affecting cotton trade and manufacturing industries.