Question

Which of the following events influenced the changes in cotton production and slavery in the United States between 1800 and 1860 illustrated in the graphs above?

(1) Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin
(2) The three-fifths compromise in the Constitution
(3) The Fugitive Slave Act was passed by Congress
(4) Erie Canal was completed in 1825​

Answer 1

The invention of the Cotton Gin by Eli Whitney strongly influenced the increase in both cotton production and the prevalence of slavery in the Southern United States between 1800 and 1860.

Step-by-step explanation:

The event that most influenced the changes in cotton production and slavery in the United States between 1800 and 1860 is the invention of the Cotton Gin by Eli Whitney. This invention revolutionized the production of cotton by making it possible to quickly separate cotton fibers from their seeds, which dramatically increased the efficiency of cotton processing. Consequently, the demand for cotton grew, and so did the reliance on slave labor to meet this demand, especially in the Southern states where cotton became a major cash crop.