The chart is titled enslaved population of Georgia. It shows that in 1790, there were 29,264 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 35.5 percent of the population. In 1800, there were 59,699 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 36.7 percent of the population. In 1810, there were 105,218 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 41.7 percent of the population. In 1820, there were 149,656 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 43.9 percent of the population.

Question

The chart is titled enslaved population of Georgia. It shows that in 1790, there were 29,264 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 35.5 percent of the population. In 1800, there were 59,699 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 36.7 percent of the population. In 1810, there were 105,218 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 41.7 percent of the population. In 1820, there were 149,656 enslaved people in Georgia, which was 43.9 percent of the population.
In the early 1800s, the number of African people held captive in slavery grew dramatically in southern states such as Georgia. What contributed the MOST to this trend?

A. 
the development of the steam engine

B. 
the industrialization of the South

C. 
the invention of the cotton gin

D. 
the electrification of rural areas

GPT 3.5 · Answer

C. the invention of the cotton gin

The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 greatly increased the demand for enslaved labor in the South, especially in states like Georgia where cotton production became a dominant agricultural industry. The cotton gin made it easier and more efficient to separate cotton fibers from the seeds, leading to a massive expansion of cotton plantations and the need for more enslaved workers to cultivate and harvest the crop. This contributed significantly to the increase in the number of enslaved people in Georgia during the early 1800s.