By March 1793, Whitney had come up with a machine that automated the separation of cotton seed from its fiber. His invention turned out up to 50 pounds of cotton daily and went on to revolutionize the cotton industry in the U.S. He had created a mechanism which made the farming of cotton profitable for the southern states.

As the U.S. moved into the 19th century, the yield of raw cotton proceeded to double with each decade. By mid-century, the industry was flourishing and the South was producing three-quarters of the world’s supply of cotton. Whitney had contributed a vital piece to our country’s history.

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