Eli Whitney
An American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin
Real World Example
Eli Whitney was an American inventor who created the cotton gin in 1793, a device that quickly and efficiently separated cotton fibers from seeds. This invention significantly boosted cotton production in the southern United States, contributing to the Industrial Revolution by providing more raw materials for textile factories. Whitney's invention mattered because it increased the demand for cotton, which unfortunately also increased the reliance on slave labor in the South. Today, his legacy lives on as it inspired advancements in manufacturing and efficiency, leading to modern automated machinery that impacts industries like agriculture and clothing production. For example, a farmer using modern machinery to harvest crops more efficiently can trace the roots of this technology back to Whitney's pioneering work on the cotton gin.
Practice Version
