Question

Eli Whitney invented a machine called the cotton gin. Before this, seeds in cotton had to be picked out by hand. The cotton gin separated the seeds from the cotton fibers, and cotton was processed more quickly. Which of the following was a result of this invention?
A.
Farmers did not need to grow as much cotton.
B.
Farmers began to hire labor to work the fields.
C.
Slaves were replaced by the new machinery.
D.
More slaves were needed to pick cotton.

Answer 1

D. More slaves were needed to pick cotton.

Explanation: The cotton gin made processing cotton much faster, which increased cotton cultivation and demand for labor to plant and pick the cotton, thus increasing the demand for enslaved labor.