Cotton Gin, Railroads, and Slavery

3a. Based on this document, state one effect the invention of the cotton gin had on the number of slave states.

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B: . . . Because of the cotton gin, slaves now labored on ever-larger plantations where work was more regimented [organized] and relentless [unending]. As large plantations spread into the Southwest, the price of slaves and land inhibited [slowed] the growth of cities and industries. In the 1850s seven-eighths of all immigrants settled in the North, where they found 72% of the nation’s manufacturing capacity. The growth of the “peculiar institution” [slavery] was affecting many aspects of Southern life.

3b. Based on this document, state one effect the invention of the cotton gin had on the growth of cities and industry in the South.

4. Based on the chart, what is one advantage of using railroads over other methods of transportation?

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Another important technological development that had a major impact on the state of Georgia was the invention of the railroad. Many of Georgia’s cities and towns were created due to the railroad, including the city of Atlanta. The first Georgia railroad was chartered in 1832. It was created in part by businessmen in Athens who needed a better way to transport cotton to Augusta due to poor road conditions. In the 1840s and 1850s, railroads had spread across so much of the state that Georgia ranked in the top 10 for railroad track millage. Georgia had the most miles of track in the Deep South.

The city of Atlanta was created as a railroad hub for the Western and Atlantic Railroad. This track ran from Chattanooga, Tennessee to a small hub called “Terminus,” which means “end of the line.” Later, two other railroad lines combined with this point, causing the city to grow even more. Terminus changed its name in 1843, to Marthasville, after the former governor Wilson Lumpkin’s daughter. Its name was changed again in 1845 to Atlanta, which many claim was simply a feminization of the name Atlantic. Due to the invention of the railroad, Atlanta became the first major American city to be built on a location without a navigable river.

5a. What was the reason behind creating the first railroad in Georgia?

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5b. Cause:___________________________________ Effect: Cities and towns were created

5c. What was special about Georgia’s railroads? __________________________________________________________

5d. How did the city of Atlanta come to be? ______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Georgia Cotton Production - 1860

6a. The different shaded counties represent different financial values. Which area of Georgia sold the most cotton?

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6b. Which area of Georgia had the most railroad lines? __________________________________

6c. What connection can we make between these two factors? _______________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

Extended Response Question: What effects did innovations like the cotton gin and railroads have on slavery in Georgia?

Process for Writing the Extended Response

1. Break down the question

What effects did innovations like the cotton gin and railroads have on slavery in Georgia?

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  Circle the key words above.
  
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  Define any words you don’t know.
  
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  Write down a sentence or phrase explaining what the question is asking you to do.
  

Because all of the information you need is found in this DBQ packet, you don’t have to answer this question from memory. What you DO need to do is locate the relevant and important information.

Think about the main components of this question: effects, cotton gin, railroads, slavery

2a. Write the document numbers next to each topic

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  Cotton gin: ________________________________________________________________________
  
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  Railroads:_________________________________________________________________________
  
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  Slavery:___________________________________________________________________________
  

For each component of the extended response question, use the information in the documents to write a sentence with a main idea.

What do the documents say about the following topics:

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  Cotton gin: ____________________________________________________________________________________
  
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  Railroads: _____________________________________________________________________________________
  
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  Slavery: ______________________________________________________________________________________
  

You have all of the information and ideas collected! Now it’s time to write an introductory paragraph, which should introduce the topic and state your main argument.

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5. Outline Your Response

An outline is the simplest way to plan your writing. Here’s a simple, pre-made outline that you can use to organize your thoughts:

A. Introduction

B. First Point (begin with cotton gin or railroads): _____________________________________________________

I. Supporting details (which documents will you use to find details?):__________________________________

C. Second Point (cotton gin or railroads): ________________________________________________________________