Final answer:
The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 significantly impacted the United States' industry by increasing the efficiency of cotton production, leading to the expansion of both the cotton industry in the South and the textile industry in the Northeast.
Step-by-step explanation:
One specific effect of a technological development on industry in the United States from 1790 to 1820 was the impact of the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793. This device quickly separated cotton fibers from their seeds, a job that previously required labor-intensive manual effort.
The cotton gin drastically increased the efficiency of cotton production, leading to the expansion of the cotton industry in the Southern states and contributing to the industrial economy of the United States. This growth in cotton production fueled the textile industry in the Northeast, promoting the development of factory production and a burgeoning industrial revolution.
The adoption of the cotton gin had profound socioeconomic ramifications as well; it reinforced the institution of slavery in the South, as the increased productivity led to a greater demand for labor.
Despite the grim ethical consequences, the technological advancement represented by the cotton gin is considered a significant moment in American industrial history, demonstrating the wide-reaching effects that such innovations could have on different aspects of society and economy.