An essay that explains the effects of the cotton gin on the breakout of the civil war.

Throughout the history of the United States, there have been many world changing inventions. Many of these inventions have had a drastic affect on not only the scientific community but also the political and social environments of the time. During the late 1700's, one such invention significantly changed the economic climate in the southern United States so drastically that it lead to the bloodiest American war in history. Many inventions have had a drastic impact …

…depended on slave labor (Fogel, 43). Eli Whitney had no idea what impact his simple invention would have on the economic climate of the United States. Although he was only attempting to help out a friend in the South by creating the cotton gin, he succeeded in changing the economic face of the nation. His original patent has not changed in over 200 years. Very few inventions have impacted the nation as much as the cotton gin.