1.1K views · 38 reactions | 231 years ago today, Eli Whitney received a patent for the cotton gin, one of the most transformative inventions in American history. Our clip from THE CIVIL WAR dives into how the cotton gin dramatically increased demand for slave labor in the South. #TodayInHistory | UNUM Ken Burns | Facebook

⚙️🌱 Eli Whitney’s inventions changed American industry forever. The cotton gin (1793) revolutionized cotton processing by rapidly separating fibers from seeds, boosting productivity and reshaping the U.S. economy. While it fueled the cotton industry’s growth, it also deepened the reliance on enslaved labor, leaving a complex and lasting social impact. At the same time, interchangeable parts transformed manufacturing. By standardizing components, production became faster, cheaper, and more effic