1. The Innovation of the Cotton Gin
By: Ashley Moxey

2. Life Before the Cotton Gin
Picking cotton by hand was extremely labor intensive
Cotton was not considered a profitable crop
Cotton was difficult to manufacture

3. Slavery Before the Cotton Gin
Slaves would have to clean cotton by hand
Agriculture depended heavily on the slaves in the South
Slaves had to pick the seeds out of the cotton fibers and it took them one day to produce 1 lb. of cotton

4. Eli Whitney Biography
Born on December 8, 1765 in Westboro, Massachusetts
Worked on father’s farm
At age 15, had part-time job in father’s shop making nails
While tutoring on a Georgian Plantation he noticed slaves having trouble picking seed from cotton bolls
Graduated Yale College in 1792
Was an American inventor best known for the cotton gin

5. Eli Whitney

6. Invention of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney Invented the Cotton Gin
Took him 10 days to draw a plan for the machine
His gin was able to clean 50 lbs. of cotton a day
Reason for inventing it: he saw it took too long to clean cotton
April 1793

7. Letter Eli wrote to his father about his invention.
Pg. 2 of 4 of letter
Pg. 1 of 4 of letter.

8. The Cotton Gin: What is it?
The cotton gin is a machine used to separate cotton fibers from the seed.

9. How The Cotton Gin Works
First, the fibers and seeds of cotton bolls are fed into the cotton gin…
Next, while the handle is turned, the cylinder and brushes rotate…
Wire teeth pull cotton bolls through narrow wire slots…
Seeds too large fall to bottom of the gin…
5. Clean cotton fiber is pulled by rotating brushes from wire teeth out of the gin.

10. Slavery After the Invention of the Cotton Gin
Economic foundation of slavery strengthened
More land was used to grow cotton, therefore more slaves were needed
Solidified the need for slavery in the South

11. Slaves using the cotton gin.

12. Effects of the Cotton Gin on American Society…
Positive Negative
1. Massive growth Need for slaves increased
of cotton production Number of slave states shot up
easier Took land from Native Americans
2. Expanded Northern textile mills
3. Became cash crop of America

13. Patent on the Cotton Gin
Whitney applied for patent on the cotton gin
Patent was ignored
More people made their own design
Whitney never became wealthy from invention
Actual patent written.
Actual sketch of cotton gin.

14. Eli Whitney died on January 8, 1825 in New Haven, Connecticut.
Eli Whitney’s tomb at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut.
Eli Whitney’s grave memorial.

15. Evolution of the Cotton Gin.
First cotton gin
Modern cotton gin

16. Historical Significance of the Cotton Gin
Cotton became America’s leading cash crop
Impact on Slavery in the South
Greater availability and cheaper cloth
Affected politics until Civil War
Turning Point in economic history of US

17. Present Day Significance
What can you make from a bale of cotton?
Weight = 480 lbs. (size of a refrigerator!)
From that bale, you can make:
215 Pairs of Jeans
409 Men’s Sport Shirts
690 Terry Bath Towels
765 Men’s Dress Shirts
1,217 Men’s T-shirts
3,085 Diapers
4,321 Mid-Calf Socks
313,600 $100 Bills

18. Wow!!!

20. ? Question for Debate ?
Would slavery in the South have withered away without the Innovation of the Cotton Gin?