Cotton Gin, Railroads, and Slavery

DIRECTIONS: Carefully look at each document, which could be a chart, diagram, quote, or description. Then, use the document to respond to the guiding questions. At the end of the packet, you’ll use ALL of your thoughtful answers to answer a longer question.

Eli Whitney invented the mechanical cotton gin in 1793. Before this invention, removing seeds from cotton was very time consuming. Slaves removed seeds from each cotton bowl by hand.

1. Based on the information, photograph, and diagram provided, how did the use of this technology change the way cotton was processed?

2a. Based on the charts above, explain how the invention of the cotton gin changed cotton production.

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2b. Based on the charts above, state one effect the cotton gin had on slavery.

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