Question

Based on the timeline above and your textbook, what can be directly tied to the invention of the cotton gin?

(1 point)

industrialization in New England

the spread of slavery

the Civil War

economic hardships in the South

Answer 1

The invention of the cotton gin can be directly tied to **the spread of slavery**. The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, made the process of separating cotton fibers from seeds much more efficient, leading to an increase in cotton production. This uptick in production created a greater demand for labor, which in turn led to the expansion of slavery in the Southern United States.