Use the the graph to answer the question.
The graph illustrates cotton production steadily increasing from 1790 to 1810, then exponentially increasing from 1810 to 1834.
Which event BEST explains the trend illustrated in the graph?
A.
the tariff disputes that led to the Nullification Crisis in 1833
B.
the election of Thomas Jefferson as president in 1800
C.
the 1808 abolition of the slave trade in the United States
D.
the invention and increased use of the cotton gin in the South
D. the invention and increased use of the cotton gin in the South
The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 revolutionized cotton production by significantly increasing the efficiency of separating cotton fibers from their seeds. This innovation led to a significant increase in cotton production and ultimately contributed to the exponential growth shown in the graph from 1810 to 1834.