Final answer:
The cotton gin increased the efficiency of processing short-staple cotton, leading to a surge in cotton production and a significant contribution to Georgia's economy. This invention resulted in a cotton boom that made cotton the region's main commercial crop and increased international demand.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of Eli Whitney's cotton gin in 1793 had a significant impact on the economy of Georgia and the broader Southern United States. The cotton gin greatly increased the efficiency of cotton processing, especially for the short-staple cotton, which was more difficult to grow and process but became economically viable thanks to this invention. Planters in Georgia were able to produce large quantities of cotton, which in turn contributed to a surge in supply, meeting the rising international demand for cotton products.
With the ability to process short-staple cotton faster and more profitably, the cotton gin led to an expansion of the cotton-growing areas into the Old Southwest, including Georgia, which had suitable soil for this type of cotton. The result was a remarkable increase in cotton production; for example, from 1800 to 1820, production rose from about 73,000 bales to 730,000 bales. By the mid-19th century, the United States produced approximately 68 percent of the world's cotton supply, and the cotton economy had become the foundation of the Southern economy.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: (B) It led to an increase in the demand for cotton. The cotton gin enabled cotton to become the major commercial crop of the region, eclipsing other crops in economic importance, and resulted in a cotton boom that influenced the entire economic structure of Georgia and the Southern United States.
Learn more about Cotton Gin