The two technological advances that led to a large increase in the enslaved population in Georgia from 1830 to 1860 were the invention of the cotton gin and the expansion of railroads.
1. Cotton Gin: The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, revolutionized cotton production by mechanizing the separation of cotton fibers from the seeds. Prior to the cotton gin, this process was done manually, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive. The cotton gin dramatically increased the efficiency of cotton production, enabling a faster and cheaper processing of cotton. This led to a significant increase in cotton production, especially in the southern states, including Georgia. Cotton quickly became a cash crop for Georgia planters, leading to the expansion of cotton plantations and a high demand for enslaved labor to work on these plantations.
2. Railroads: During the same period, there was a significant expansion of railroads across the United States. Railroads allowed for quicker and cheaper transportation of goods, including cotton, to distant markets. This expansion facilitated a larger-scale cotton production in Georgia, enabling planters to cultivate more land for cotton plantations. The increased demand for cotton brought about by the efficiencies of rail transport contributed to an increased need for enslaved labor to work on these plantations.
The combination of the cotton gin's increased efficiency in cotton production and the expansion of railroads for faster transportation of cotton played crucial roles in driving the demand for enslaved labor in Georgia during this time period.
Which two technological advances led to such a large increase in the enslaved population in Georgia from 1830 to 1860?
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