Final answer:
correct option: The cotton gin created a higher demand for cotton which increased the demand for slave labor.
The cotton gin led to a higher demand for cotton, which in turn increased the demand for slave labor to meet the growing agricultural needs of the South.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct summary of the relationship between the cotton gin and the slave population in the South is that the cotton gin created a higher demand for cotton which increased the demand for slave labor. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 by Eli Whitney drastically increased the efficiency of cotton processing, particularly for the short staple cotton which was harder to clean by hand. As production became faster and more cotton was brought to market, the Southern economy became increasingly reliant on this cash crop, driving a need for more labor to plant, cultivate, and harvest cotton. Due to the profitability brought by the invention of the cotton gin, enslaved labor became even more essential to satisfy the increasing demand for cotton in both American and international markets.
The Cotton Revolution saw a massive increase in the United States' global position as a cotton producer, resulting in the South's deeper entrenched dependence on slavery. With more land being cultivated for cotton due to its profitability and increased demand in global markets, the need for enslaved African-Americans escalated, further entrenching the institution of slavery in the Southern economy and society.