Eli Whitney, an American inventor, revolutionized the cotton industry with his invention of the cotton gin in 1793.
This machine dramatically sped up the process of separating cotton fibers from their seeds, a task that was previously labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Whitney's invention made cotton production vastly more efficient, contributing to the industrialization of the Southern United States and greatly boosting the economy.
However, it also had the unintended consequence of strengthening the institution of slavery, as the increased demand for cotton led to a greater need for labor to plant, tend, and harvest the crop.
Whitney's cotton gin thus had profound and lasting impacts on both American industry and society.
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