Cotton Gin and Eli Whitney

Introduction

• Eli Whitney
  • Born in 1765, died in 1825.
  • American inventor known for revolutionizing cotton production.

Invention of the Cotton Gin

• Cotton Gin Patent
  • Patented in 1794.
  • Mechanized the process of removing seeds from cotton fiber.
  • Greatly increased efficiency of cotton production.
• Impact
  • By the mid-19th century, cotton became America's leading export.
  • Despite its success, Whitney earned little due to patent infringements.
  • Contributed to the expansion of slavery in the South.

Whitney's Early Life and Education

• Born in Westborough, Massachusetts.
• Showed mechanical talent from a young age.
• Graduated from Yale College in 1792.
• Went South to work as a private tutor.
• Stayed at Catherine Greene's plantation in Georgia.

Development of the Cotton Gin

• Problem with Cotton
  • Cotton plants contained seeds difficult to separate.
  • Long staple cotton easy to clean but grew only in coastal areas.
  • Short-staple cotton, more labor-intensive, was prevalent.
• Solution
  • Whitney built a machine to efficiently remove seeds from cotton.
  • Used a wooden drum with hooks and a mesh, separating fibers from seeds.
  • Could clean 50 pounds of cotton per day with a hand-cranked machine.

Establishing a Business

• Whitney and Phineas Miller formed a company to manufacture cotton gins.
• Planned to take a portion of cotton produced as payment.
• Farmers pirated design, impacting Whitney's profits.

Economic and Social Impact

• Economic Transformation
  • Made cotton production efficient and cheap, boosting the Southern economy.
  • Provided raw materials for Northern textile mills.
• Impact on Slavery
  • Increased demand for slaves despite reducing labor for seed removal.
  • Slaveholders expanded cotton farms, requiring more slaves.

Introduction to Interchangeable Parts

• In 1798, Whitney contracted by the U.S. government to produce muskets.
• Promoted the idea of interchangeable parts for easier assembly and repair.
• Pioneered American mass-production systems.
• Took 10 years to fulfill the musket contract.

Personal Life

• Married Henrietta Edwards in 1817.
• Had four children.
• Died in 1825 at age 59.