The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in the late 18th century, revolutionized the cotton industry by greatly increasing the efficiency of separating cotton fibers from the seeds. This led to a massive increase in cotton production and fueled the expansion of slavery in the American South, as more cotton could be processed and profits soared. Additionally, the cotton gin further entrenched the economic dependence of the Southern states on cotton, shaping the region's social and political landscape for decades to come.
