In hopes of making a patentable machine, whitney put aside his plans to study law and instead tinkered throughout the winter and spring in a secret workshop provided by catherine greene. The cotton gin was probably eli whitneys most famous invention. The cotton gin, patented by americanborn born inventor eli whitney in 1794, revolutionized the cotton industry by greatly speeding up the tedious process of removing seeds and husks from cotton fiber. March 14, 1794 eli whitney patented the cotton gin posted on 03142009 by rhapsodyinbooks eli whitney, born in westborough, massachusetts in 1765, was reared in a rigid puritan atmosphere, and worked hard from a young age to help support his family. That all changed with eli whitneys invention of the cotton gin near the end of the 18th century. Eli whitney was an american inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin. Eli whitney, the inventor of the cottongin in the harvest season of the cotton states of the south a vast, fleecy snowfall seems to have come down in the silence of the night and covered acres innumerable with its virgin emblem of plenty and prosperity. Whitney, eli, 17651825 cartoons and comics juvenile literature whitney, eli, 17651825 comic books, strips, etc. Examine the photograph of a cotton plant, eli whitney s cotton gin model, the stereo card of an african american worker, and the harpers weekly illustration.
Eli whitney and the cotton gin inventions and discovery. It was invented by eli whitney in 1793 and patented in 1794. Eli whitney was the first person to build a wiretoothed cotton gin. Similar to todays massive machines, whitneys cotton gin used hooks to draw unprocessed cotton through a smallmesh screen that separated the fiber from seeds and husks. Actionpacked nonfiction, the graphic library series present the stories of history in highinterest, graphic novel format. Cotton gins and ginning cartoons and comics juvenile literature. As eli whitney left new england and headed south in 1792, he had no idea that within the next seven months he would invent a machine that would profoundly alter the course of american history. In her book, lakwete traces the history of the cotton gin from its asian and african origins and addresses the myths that eli whitney invented the cotton gin and that his invention was responsible for the development of society and the economy in the south during the antebellum era. Whitney and miller received a patent in march 1794 and developed a plan to travel to plantations to use the gin on farmers cotton in exchange for a portion of the completed supply. In one hour, he turned out the full days work of several workers. Eli whitney biography childhood, life achievements. The industrial revolution is mostly remembered for its replacement of manual labor with the textile industry. Eli whitney and the cotton gin 34 formatted like a graphic novel, this book tells the story of how eli whitney invented the cotton gin and the effects it had on the south.
Eli whitney and the cotton gin audiobook by jessica. Eli whitney and the cotton gin by jessica gunderson. Eli whitney, a young man from massachusetts, listened politely to the georgia planters complaints. People are realizing they were incorrectly taught eli. The story of eli whitneys life and invention of the cotton gin, as well as his later important invention, is recounted in pictures and captions. Whitney was born in massachusetts, and after the death of his mother in 1777, he began working as a nail manufacturer in his fathers workshop. The cotton gin made the cotton industry of the south explode.
Born on december 8, 1765, in westboro, massachusetts, eli whitney studied at yale before going on to invent the cotton gin, a device that highly streamlined the process of extracting. Tells the story of how eli whitney invented the cotto. In case its been a few years since you took a us history class, this is eli whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin. Eli whitney inventor of the cotton gin mini bio bio. What does the contract between eli whitney and the state of tennessee promise. In graphic novel format, tells the story of how eli whitney invented the cotton gin, and the effects it had on the south. Read on to learn more about the inventions and life of eli whitney or. Eli whitney december 8, 1765january 8, 1825 was an american inventor, manufacturer, and mechanical engineer who invented the cotton gin. The invention of the cotton gin and its historic impact. Originally whitney planned to use small circular saws instead of the hooks, but the saws were unobtainable. Narrate whitneys contribution to manufacturing methods according to the book. The cotton gin the eli whitney museum and workshop. Eli whitney, the inventor of the cottongin full online book.
Charles barnett, iii in graphic novel format, tells the story of how eli whitney invented the cotton gin, and the effects it had on the southprovided by publisher. On this day in 1793, young inventor eli whitney had his u. Sep 23, 2016 eli whitney s patent for the cotton gin background eli whitney and the need for an invention. Mar 11, 2014 born in 1765 in westboro, massachusetts, eli whitney studied at yale before going on to invent the cotton gin, a device that highly streamlined the process of extracting fiber from cottonseeds. Eli whitney and the cotton gin arlington public library. Whitney was born in westboro, massachusetts on december 8, 1765 and died on january 8, 1825. His invention is called cotton gin, gin being short for engine. Eli whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, wasnt black. The popular image of whitney inventing the cotton gin is attributed to an article on the subject written in the early 1870s and later reprinted in 1910 in the library of southern literature. Effect of eli whitneys cotton gin on historic trends in. Able to more effectively separate the cotton fiber from seeds, whitneys cotton gin turned the cotton industry into one of the antebellum souths biggest cash cows, and as a result, the region became even more dependent on slave labor than before. A florida newspapers 1994 bulletpoint list of how black americans helped shape the sunshine state, for example, has one entry that reads 1793. Eli whitney was an american inventor who invented cotton gin during the industrial revolution.
Mar 14, 2020 in 1794, eli whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized americas cotton industry. Whitney received a patent later numbered as x72 for his cotton gin on march 14 th, 1794, but it was not validated until 1807. Eli whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine for removing seeds from cotton. A single cotton gin could generate up to 55 pounds 25 kg of cleaned cotton daily. Biography of eli whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. Eli whitneys patent for the cotton gin national archives. Eli whitneys 1793 cotton gin was a particularly famous innovation, commonly credited with having vastly increased cottons profitability, fueling an otherwise diminishing demand for slave labor, and so substantially contributing to the american civil war. Newbery awardwinning author tells the story of the man whose inventive genius made cotton king in america and in the world. Eli whitney is famous for having invented the cotton gin, but little is known about the trials he endured as he developed it, the neverending legal battles he was forced to fight, and his remarkable character and determination throughout the process. Whitney gave a demonstration of his first model before a few friends. Explain whitneys mistake in marketing selling the gin.
Eli whitney transformed the textile industry with his invention of the cotton gin. How much of an impact the gin which is short for engine had on the retention of slavery in the south is still being debated. Tobacco prices were low, and rice and indigo prices werent much better. In 1883, german political philosopher karl marx died in london at age 64. Distribution of slave labor in 1850 cotton grew well, but cleaning the seeds out of cotton fibers was a big problem. Born on december 8, 1765, in westboro, massachusetts, eli whitney studied at yale before going on to invent the cotton gin, a device that highly. New book challenges myth of eli whitney and cotton gin farm. There is slight controversy over whether the idea of the modern cotton gin and its constituent elements are correctly attributed to eli whitney. March 14, 1794 eli whitney patented the cotton gin. Eli whitney was an american inventor who gave the world a powerful machinery to produce heaps of cotton without much hassle, money and labor. New book challenges myth of eli whitney and cotton gin. Eli whitney december 8, 1765 january 8, 1825 was an american inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin. Learn more about his life and significance in this article. Read download eli whitney and the cotton gin pdf pdf.
However, the cotton gin was not difficult to replicate, and many began to. Before its invention, separating cotton fibers from its seeds was a laborintensive and unprofitable venture. Eli whitney, american inventor, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer, best remembered as the inventor of the cotton gin but most important for developing the concept of mass production of interchangeable parts. This contributed to the economic development of the southern states of the united states, which became a prime cotton growing area. This was one of the key inventions of the industrial revolution and shaped the economy of the antebellum south. That all changed with eli whitney s invention of the cotton gin near the end of the 18th century. The book is laced with far more than his invention of the cotton gin, including a bit of suspense and a bit of romance but mostly with a character development that paints eli whitney as a wellmannered friend who happens to be a mechanical genious. People thought that it would lessen slavery, but it actually did exactly the opposite.
Eli whitney american inventor born on december 08, 1765, died on january 08, 1825 eli whitney was an american inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin. Read on to learn more about the inventions and life of eli whitney or alternatively download our comprehensive worksheet pack. People are realizing they were incorrectly taught eli whitney. In 1794, eli whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized americas cotton industry. However, the cotton gin was not difficult to replicate, and many began to steal the design for themselves despite the patent. He went to court to protect his wiretoothed cotton gin when others tried to build similar. Eli whitney and the cotton gin inventions and discovery by jessica gunderson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. One of the most significant inventions of the american industrial revolution, the cotton gin turned cotton into a highly profitable crop. California foundation for agriculture in the classroom, cream of the crop. The story of eli whitney s life and invention of the cotton gin, as well as his later important invention, is recounted in pictures and captions.
Eli whitney was an american inventor best known for the creation of the cotton gin, one of the key innovations of the industrial revolution. But elis gin was not the first machine of its kind. Index, glossary, and more information fact page are included. Samuel finley breese morse his invention made cotton a highly valuable crop in the south, which led to a massive increase in slavery. Mar 19, 2020 whitney and miller received a patent in march 1794 and developed a plan to travel to plantations to use the gin on farmers cotton in exchange for a portion of the completed supply. Sep 24, 2019 eli whitney december 8, 1765january 8, 1825 was an american inventor, manufacturer, and mechanical engineer who invented the cotton gin. View a painting of whitneys gun factory painted in 1827. Machineries were one of the most important aspects of the industrial revolution encarta online encyclopedia. But eli s gin was not the first machine of its kind.
Eli whitney s patent for the cotton gin background eli whitney and the need for an invention. Examine the photograph of a cotton plant, eli whitneys cotton gin model, the stereo card of an african american worker, and the harpers weekly illustration. After eli whitney unveiled his cotton gin, processing cotton became much easier, resulting in greater availability and cheaper cloth. It sped up cotton producing by separating the cotton fibers from their seeds. Whitneys invention made upland short cotton into a profitable crop, which strengthened the economic foundation of slavery in the united states. In fact, says the assistant professor, the machine that. The invention revived the economy of the antebellum south and sustained slavery as a key economic and social. Read download eli whitney and the cotton gin pdf pdf download. Born in 1765 in westboro, massachusetts, eli whitney studied at yale before going on to invent the cotton gin, a device that highly streamlined the process of extracting fiber from cottonseeds. Students will first talk in partners or groups about a topic related to eli whitney and the cotton gin. This product utilizes the talk, read, talk, write teaching strategy to get students talking, reading, and writing about eli whitney and the cotton gin.