Question

“At the exposition, a technical school was established to showcase the cotton goods industry and support American manufacturers and exporters. The exhibit included samples of cotton-machinery and explained foreign demand in world markets.”



“The railroads that now traverse our state enable planters to haul raw cotton more cheaply and deliver to ports more quickly.”



—Adapted from The Atlanta Weekly Constitution, November 15, 1881, and the Savannah Daily Republican, July 1854, Georgia Historic Newspapers Archive, University of Georgia Digital Libraries.



What conclusion can be drawn about how technological developments such as the cotton gin and railroads affected Georgia’s economy?



A.
They reduced transportation time and processing costs, which made cotton cultivation more profitable and encouraged further agricultural expansion.

B.
They enabled Georgia to become fully self-sufficient in manufacturing textiles from cotton and reduced its reliance on trade with other regions.

C.
They reduced the need for farm labor by making cotton production fully mechanized, decreasing reliance on enslaved workers.

D.
They forced neighboring Southern states to stop growing cotton, concentrating production in Georgia.

Answer 1

A

Technological advances like the cotton gin and railroads lowered processing and transportation costs, making cotton more profitable to grow and ship, which encouraged expansion of cotton agriculture and related trade and manufacturing.