How did the invention of the cotton gin affect slavery in the U.S ?
Answer Hi Gurvis, I’ll be glad to help with your question. The cotton gin made the separation of the cotton seed from the rest of the cotton ball much easier. The result was that much more cotton was ready for processing in about half the time it would normally take. Cotton production before the gin was invented was shrinking, not growing, because it was so expensive to grow and process cotton. Many slaves were required to produce even a small amount of cotton. But, with the gin, many fewer slaves were needed. So, the cost of cotton growing decreased, and as a result the number of cotton growers increased. And those growers, as they expanded their business with the help of the gin, were able to afford more slaves. So, the cotton gin made cotton production more profitable, and that lead to the expansion of slavery. I hope this helps, Gurvis. But if you have further questions, just ask.
