Question

Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793 led to
A.
an increase in the number of textile mills in the South.
B.
a decrease in the number of slaves in the South.
C.
an increase in the amount of cotton the U.S. imported.
D.
an increase in agricultural production in the South.

Answer 1

D. an increase in agricultural production in the South.

The cotton gin made short‑staple cotton profitable by speeding seed removal, causing a rapid expansion of cotton cultivation (and thus agricultural output and slavery) across the South.