How the Cotton Gin Increased the Use of Slaves

Who invented the cotton gin and Why? Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. He got the idea at a dinner party. Guests were talking about how cotton farming would be very profitable if it didn’t take so much time to pick the seeds out of the cotton. They asked him to invent a machine to help them.

How does the Cotton Gin Work?

Before and After the Cotton Gin 10 acres of land 5 slaves 1 month to plow 2 weeks to plant seeds 1 month to pick cotton 2 months to pick out seeds Total Time: 5 ½ months Profit: $1,000 dollars After 20 acres of land 5 slaves 2 months to plow 1 month to plant seeds 2 months to pick cotton 1 week to pick out seeds Total time: 5 months and 1 week Profit: $ 2,000 dollars

The Next Year The farmer takes the extra $1,000 dollars he made and buys 20 more acres and 5 more slaves. Because he has 5 more slaves, he can plant he can plant 40 acres. His profit this year will now be $4,000. What do you think he will do the next year?

ONE AMERICAN’S STORY Catherine Beale was born into slavery in 1838. At the age of 91, in 1929, she recalled her childhood on a Virginia plantation. When asked what games she had played, Catherine replied that enslaved children never played games—they were too busy with chores. Among the tasks were picking and cleaning cotton. A VOICE FROM THE PAST We had to work in the field in the day and at night we had to pick out the seed before we went to bed. And we had to clean the wool, we had to pick the burrs and sticks out so it would be clean and could be carded and spun and wove. Catherine Beale, quoted in Slave Testimony