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. Students will first talk in partners or groups about a topic related to eli whitney and the cotton gin. Eli whitney was an american inventor best known for the creation of the cotton gin, one of the key innovations of the industrial revolution.
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. Eli whitney biography childhood, life achievements. But elis gin was not the first machine of its kind. 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.
There is slight controversy over whether the idea of the modern cotton gin and its constituent elements are correctly attributed to eli whitney. Narrate whitneys contribution to manufacturing methods according to the book. In fact, says the assistant professor, the machine that. Able to more effectively separate the cotton fiber from seeds, whitney s 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. On this day in 1793, young inventor eli whitney had his u. 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. In 1883, german political philosopher karl marx died in london at age 64.
People thought that it would lessen slavery, but it actually did exactly the opposite. 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. Read on to learn more about the inventions and life of eli whitney or alternatively download our comprehensive worksheet pack. Eli whitney transformed the textile industry with his invention of the cotton gin. 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. 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. A single cotton gin could generate up to 55 pounds 25 kg of cleaned cotton daily. Eli whitney and the cotton gin by jessica gunderson. 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. Effect of eli whitneys cotton gin on historic trends in.
Eli whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, wasnt black. 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. Before its invention, separating cotton fibers from its seeds was a laborintensive and unprofitable venture. 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. However, the cotton gin was not difficult to replicate, and many began to steal the design for themselves despite the patent. The industrial revolution is mostly remembered for its replacement of manual labor with the textile industry. 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 whitneys patent for the cotton gin national archives. Learn more about his life and significance in this article. 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.
Newbery awardwinning author tells the story of the man whose inventive genius made cotton king in america and in the world. 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. 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. Eli whitney and the cotton gin inventions and discovery. Eli whitney and the cotton gin arlington public library. 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. In 1794, eli whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized americas cotton industry. Eli whitney december 8, 1765 january 8, 1825 was an american inventor best known for inventing 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.
In case its been a few years since you took a us history class, this is eli whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin. New book challenges myth of eli whitney and cotton gin farm. Eli whitney was the inventor of the cotton gin and a pioneer in the mass production of cotton. Read download eli whitney and the cotton gin pdf pdf. Biography of eli whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. But eli s gin was not the first machine of its kind. 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. The invention revived the economy of the antebellum south and sustained slavery as a key economic and social. Eli whitney was an american inventor who gave the world a powerful machinery to produce heaps of cotton without much hassle, money and labor. 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. The cotton gin was probably eli whitneys most famous invention.
Eli whitney was the first person to build a wiretoothed cotton gin. 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. That all changed with eli whitneys invention of the cotton gin near the end of the 18th century. Eli whitney and the cotton gin audiobook by jessica. Tells the story of how eli whitney invented the cotto. The cotton gin the eli whitney museum and workshop.
Eli whitney, a young man from massachusetts, listened politely to the georgia planters complaints. Explain whitneys mistake in marketing selling the gin. 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. 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. It was invented by eli whitney in 1793 and patented in 1794. 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. This contributed to the economic development of the southern states of the united states, which became a prime cotton growing area. Whitney was born in westboro, massachusetts on december 8, 1765 and died on january 8, 1825. 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. Originally whitney planned to use small circular saws instead of the hooks, but the saws were unobtainable. That all changed with eli whitney s invention of the cotton gin near the end of the 18th century. Eli whitney, the inventor of the cottongin full online book. A florida newspapers 1994 bulletpoint list of how black americans helped shape the sunshine state, for example, has one entry that reads 1793. 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.
Sep 23, 2016 eli whitney s patent for the cotton gin background eli whitney and the need for an invention. His invention is called cotton gin, gin being short for engine. One of the most significant inventions of the american industrial revolution, the cotton gin turned cotton into a highly profitable crop. Mar 14, 2020 in 1794, eli whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized americas cotton industry. Distribution of slave labor in 1850 cotton grew well, but cleaning the seeds out of cotton fibers was a big problem. Sep 24, 2019 eli whitney december 8, 1765january 8, 1825 was an american inventor, manufacturer, and mechanical engineer who invented the cotton gin. Samuel finley breese morse his invention made cotton a highly valuable crop in the south, which led to a massive increase in slavery. What does the contract between eli whitney and the state of tennessee promise. Whitneys invention made upland short cotton into a profitable crop, which strengthened the economic foundation of slavery in the united states.
Eli whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine for removing seeds from cotton. Read on to learn more about the inventions and life of eli whitney or. Machineries were one of the most important aspects of the industrial revolution encarta online encyclopedia. However, the cotton gin was not difficult to replicate, and many began to. Actionpacked nonfiction, the graphic library series present the stories of history in highinterest, graphic novel format.
Eli whitney inventor of the cotton gin mini bio bio. Whitney, eli, 17651825 cartoons and comics juvenile literature whitney, eli, 17651825 comic books, strips, etc. New book challenges myth of eli whitney and cotton gin. Tobacco prices were low, and rice and indigo prices werent much better. Index, glossary, and more information fact page are included. California foundation for agriculture in the classroom, cream of the crop. Eli whitney was an american inventor who invented cotton gin during the industrial revolution.
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. This was one of the key inventions of the industrial revolution and shaped the economy of the antebellum south. 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. People are realizing they were incorrectly taught eli whitney. 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.
It sped up cotton producing by separating the cotton fibers from their seeds. 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 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. Whitney received a patent later numbered as x72 for his cotton gin on march 14 th, 1794, but it was not validated until 1807. Read download eli whitney and the cotton gin pdf pdf download. In one hour, he turned out the full days work of several workers. The cotton gin made the cotton industry of the south explode.
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. Cotton gins and ginning cartoons and comics juvenile literature. Whitney gave a demonstration of his first model before a few friends. He went to court to protect his wiretoothed cotton gin when others tried to build similar.
265 1332 1098 607 957 135 693 252 110 1249 1037 1014 1347 761 426 1467 123 376 169 181 1471 264 1164 1112 300 362 1200 1290 695 504 1320 681 592 1377 929 278 721 1033 69