History of US Immigration

Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin late in the 18th century. It greatly reduced the manpower required to harvest the cotton plant.
The first cotton gin was invented in India during the 5th century, there is proof of this in the Ajanta caves.

There is controversy over who invented the key element of the cotton gin, the wire hooks. Katherine Greene supporters cite the claim of a friend of a friend of the plantation foreman. While Whitney supporters, like myself, cite a letter to the editor of Southern Agriculturist magazine, whose author heard from shadowy sources that Whitney had asked Greene for a pin to experiment with at the start of his efforts. There is also the claim that Eli Whitney got the idea from some African slaves working on the plantation, and he just mechanized it. Nevertheless, Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1714, and is given the credit of inventing the cotton gin.

Also, green cotton was the only cotton that could survive in most of the south, and cotton gins are not used to hold the cotton, they only separate the seed from the cotton fibers. There was also another cotton gin in between Eli Whitney's and the single-roller cotton gin in China and India. It was called the double-roller cotton gin, invented during the medieval period.

Ultimately, what is historically verifiable is that Whitney received the patent for the version of the cotton gin which revolutionized cotton production. As to who came up with which idea, and when, it's been the subject of any number of very sketchily supported claims for generations.
The first cotton gin was invented in India during the 5th century, there is proof of this in the Ajanta caves.

There is controversy over who invented the key element of the cotton gin, the wire hooks. Katherine Greene supporters cite the claim of a friend of a friend of the plantation foreman. While Whitney supporters, like myself, cite a letter to the editor of Southern Agriculturist magazine, whose author heard from shadowy sources that Whitney had asked Greene for a pin to experiment with at the start of his efforts. There is also the claim that Eli Whitney got the idea from some African slaves working on the plantation, and he just mechanized it. Nevertheless, Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1714, and is given the credit of inventing the cotton gin.

Also, green cotton was the only cotton that could survive in most of the south, and cotton gins are not used to hold the cotton, they only separate the seed from the cotton fibers. There was also another cotton gin in between Eli Whitney's and the single-roller cotton gin in China and India. It was called the double-roller cotton gin, invented during the medieval period.

Ultimately, what is historically verifiable is that Whitney received the patent for the version of the cotton gin which revolutionized cotton production. As to who came up with which idea, and when, it's been the subject of any number of very sketchily supported claims for generations.

In 1830 President Andrew Jackson signed into law "The Indian Removal Act" which allowed or authorized the removal of the "Five Civilized Tribes" (Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Chickasaw and Seminole) to "Indian Territory" (modern day Oklahoma).
In 1831 combined army, militia, and volunteer forces began to move these tribes along one of several routes to two forts located in Indian Territory: Fort Gibson and Fort Townson. The last tribe moved were the Cherokee in 1838. It should be noted that some tribes accepted bribes of money and or lands, while others did not and were forced under the threat of death - some of these rebelled resulting in armed conflict. During the move there were several way stations along the route, but not all had proper provisioning. For various reasons (from bad planning or indifference to intentional lack of concern, to malfeasant action), many Indians were not allowed or given access to proper food, medical supplies, warm clothing, nor allowed to rest for any significant period of time, which resulted in the deaths of many tribal members. These deaths were exacerbated by the untended dead left along the trail.
The native Americans began to call this trail or series of trails, the "Trail where they Wept / Cried" and it has been changed a little to "The Trail of Tears" by modern translation. The Arkansas Gazette quoted Thomas Harkins (a Choctaw) as saying "[it was] a trail of tears and death"
There were approximately 11 of these trails, taken by different tribes based upon location. They ranged in distance from 200 to 900 miles and went through 14 states (These distances do not include oversea travel):

• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Georgia
• Alabama
• Louisiana
• Florida
• Texas
• Oklahoma
• Arkansas
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Illinois

• Choctaw: 2,500 to 6,000
• Muscogee (Creek): No estimate
• Chickasaw: No Estimate - paid $530,000 dollars
• Cherokee: 4,000 to 15,000