1. Growth of the Cotton Industry Before the American Revolution, three crops dominated southern agriculture – tobacco, rice and indigo These crops, produced mainly by enslaved African Americans Before cotton could be spun into thread for weaving cloth, the seeds had to be removed from the cotton fibers

2. Eli Whitney With the increasing need for cloth and growth of textile factories, American cotton was in high demand Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin, a machine that removes seeds from short-staple cotton Planters – large scale farmers who held more than 20 slaves

3. The Cotton Boom

4. Southern Society During the first half of the 1800’s, only about one-third of white southern families had slaves Despite their small numbers, these planters had a powerful influence over the south. Many served as political leaders. Most white southerners were Yeoman, owners of small farms Yeoman owned few slaves if any at all.

5. Assessment Questions Page 419, Questions 1a, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b Page 423, Questions 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, Questions and answers