Final answer:
Eli Whitney helped the economy of the American South by inventing the cotton gin, which revolutionized the cotton industry and led to increased cotton production and the expansion of plantations. This, in turn, resulted in the growth of the slave trade as more labor was needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eli Whitney helped the economy of the American South through his invention of the cotton gin. The cotton gin was a machine that greatly increased the efficiency of cotton production by separating the seeds from the cotton fibers. This invention revolutionized the cotton industry and led to a significant increase in cotton production in the Southern states.
The cotton gin made cotton production more profitable, which resulted in increased demand for cotton and the expansion of cotton plantations. This, in turn, led to the need for more labor, which resulted in the growth of the slave trade in the American South as enslaved people were used to work on the cotton plantations.
Overall, Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin had a profound impact on the economy of the American South, transforming it into a major center for cotton production and ultimately contributing to the growth of the plantation system and the institution of slavery.
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