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Eli Whitney's cotton gin, invented in 1793, significantly boosted the cotton industry in the South by efficiently separating cotton fibers from seeds, making cotton production much faster and less labor-intensive. This innovation led to a dramatic increase in cotton output, solidifying cotton as a dominant cash crop and driving economic growth in the region. However, it also entrenched and expanded the institution of slavery, as plantation owners sought more labor to cultivate the increased cotton fields, ultimately contributing to the social and economic divides that fueled tensions leading up to the Civil War.

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AnswerBot

1w ago

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