King Cotton and the Railroads Unit 6: Growth and Expansion

King Cotton With new settlers coming in, Georgia’s economy began to boom. In the 1800s, Georgia was becoming an economic and political power.

King Cotton Cotton was the main reason for Georgia’s economic growth. Georgia settlers had been growing cotton for a long time but were not making a large profit because it was so hard to separate the seeds from the lint by hand.

King Cotton With the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, that all changed. Prior to the cotton gin, farmers could not “deseed” more than a pound of cotton a day. After the invention of the cotton gin, that number rose to 50 pounds per day.

King Cotton More cotton was planted, plantations were established, and the slavery system expanded. Georgia became one of the top cotton producers in the world.

Writing Prompt: Cause and Effect You might think that the cotton gin would eliminate the need for slaves. It did just the opposite. Why?

Railroads… The increased production of cotton exposed another need…a better way to transport the product to market in Savannah. Railroads were the answer. In 1834, workers began to build the Georgia Railroad from Athens to Augusta.

Railroads. . . By 1860, there was more than 1,200 miles of railroads in Georgia. The Western and Atlantic rail line ran from Chattanooga to a town called Terminus. Two other railroads eventually converged there, leading to the town’s growth as a transportation center.

Atlanta It was originally known as Terminus. Its name was changed to Marthasville in 1843 and then to Atlanta in 1845. Within 15 years, Atlanta was the center of railroad traffic in the South.

Writing Prompt Analyze and explain the relationship between the cotton gin, the introduction of railroads, and a booming economy in Georgia. Use textual evidence to support your response. CC6-8RH1; CC6-8RH3; CC6-8WHST2

Quick Review Georgia’s cotton was shipped from the coastal city of ____________________________. ___________________ were the means to transport cotton faster. _____________________ was the center of railroad traffic in the South. The cotton gin made little impact on Georgia’s economy. (T/F) Explain your answer. Railroads were an important factor in Georgia’s growth in the 1800s. (T/F) Explain your answer.