Cotton gin

Cotton was king among crops in the South for generations. Historical evidence shows that cotton was grown in India, China, Egypt and Pakistan thousands of years ago. Columbus found cotton plants growing in the Bahamas. It was first spun by machinery in England in the early 18th century. Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1794 revolutionized the cotton industry in the United States. Prior to his invention, farming cotton was expensive and labor-intensive, requiring hundreds of man-hours to separate the cottonseed from the raw cotton fibers. Although simple seed-removing devices have been around for centuries, Whitney's invention automated the seed separation process. His machine could generate up to 50 pounds of cleaned cotton daily, marking the beginnings of profitable cotton production. This booming cotton economy in turn had a significant effect on the spread of slavery in the southern states. Although many modifications and improvements have been made, Whitney's original design principles remain relatively unchanged today. In addition to separating the seed from the fiber, today's cotton gins also dry, clean and package the fiber before it reaches the textile mills. Using electric power and improved technologies, these automated gins can handle up to 15 tons of cotton per hour.