Question

What was the most likely CAUSE of the trend shown on the map?

Question 11 options:

Invention of cotton gin and revival of slavery

Expansion of railroads

Rise of abolitionism and slave rebellions

Increased use of pesticides and fertilizers

Answer 1

The cause of the shown trend on the map is: Invention of cotton gin and revival of slavery

What did cotton gin and slavery do for cotton production

The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 revolutionized cotton production, automating the separation of cotton fibers from seeds and significantly increasing efficiency. This innovation, coupled with the rising demand for cotton, particularly in the textile industry, led to a surge in cotton cultivation.

To meet the escalating demand for labor in cotton farming, slavery became extensively prevalent, especially in the Southern United States. The combination of the cotton gin's efficiency and the utilization of enslaved laborers propelled the rapid expansion of the cotton industry, making it a dominant and lucrative sector in the 19th-century American economy.

Answer 2

The invention of the cotton gin and revival of slavery were most likely the cause of the trend shown on the map. The map shows a significant increase in the production of cotton from 1800 until 1860. The map also shows how there was an increase in the extent of land used for cotton production, spreading mostly across the south-eastern part of the United States.

The cotton gin is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds which allows higher productivity than when it is done manually. Eli Whitney, an American inventor, created the cotton gin in 1973. The implementation of this invention in the 1800's would explain the increase in cotton productivity. On the other hand, this invention also signified that the demand for cotton workers increased and therefore led to the growth of slavery.