Final answer:
In 1793, the same year the cotton gin was invented, South Carolina alone produced around five million pounds of cotton, which then increased to 6.5 million pounds by 1800.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1793, the year the cotton gin was invented, approximately five million pounds of cotton were produced in the South, predominantly in South Carolina. This invention by Eli Whitney greatly accelerated the process of removing seeds from cotton, making cotton a significant cash crop.
By 1800, production had increased to 6.5 million pounds, and the growth continued dramatically, largely due to the efficiency brought about by the cotton gin.
The cotton revolution changed the agricultural landscape, with cotton becoming the key cash crop and the United States becoming the world's leading cotton producer. By the mid-19th century, cotton made up a substantial share of U.S. exports, and the labor-intensive industry relied heavily on enslaved African Americans. The cotton gin was a pivotal invention in the history of American agriculture and played a significant role in the South's economy.