Question

Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin transformed the nature of U.S. slavery in the early 1800s. Enslavement grew larger and more profitable than ever before in the nation’s history. While Southern states took steps to protect the practice, a growing antislavery movement was brewing in the North. Both free and enslaved African Americans took great risk in supporting abolition or aiding escaped slaves. They inspire modern movements to protect equal rights and protection for all.

Now that you are familiar with the cotton gin, the Underground Railroad, and key abolitionists, you will reflect on your learning by answering questions.

You will answer each question with a paragraph of complete sentences of your own words. Be sure to mention specific events, people, and terms from the lesson to support your answer.

How did the invention of the cotton gin affect slavery in the United States?
What was the Underground Railroad? Your response needs to include and explain the terms conductor, lines, station, and freight.
How did men like William Lloyd Garrison, Reverend Lovejoy, and Fredrick Douglass participate in the abolitionist movement?

Answer 1

Answer: Due to the invention of the cotton gin, enslavement grew larger and more profitable than ever before in the nation’s history. Slavery was a practice the the south wanted to protect, while the North wanted to abolish it, and both sides took risks to get what they wanted. This disagreement eventually led to the civil war.

The underground rail road was a safe route that escaped slaves would take in order to get to the North. Along the underground railroad, there were safehouses -- homes that would let the escapees stay stay the night, and supply them with food, shoes, or medical attention if possible. The people who lived in these safe houses were known as conductors, and if anyone was found harboring a slave, the penalty was usually death. One of the most famous conductors of the underground railroad was Harriet Tubman.

I'm not sure about the last one, but I know that at least two of them wrote about their experience in slavery, which helped to expose the cruelty of the practice to the Americans who had not been exposed to it, which helped to spark the strong desire in the North to end slavery.

Step-by-step explanation:

I hope this helps! Happy almost Easter!

Answer 2

Answer: 1) While it was true that the cotton gin reduced the labor of removing seeds, it did not reduce the need for slaves to grow and pick the cotton. Cotton growing became so profitable for the planters that it greatly increased their demand for both land and slave labor. 2) The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early to mid-19th century, and used by enslaved African-Americans to primarily escape into free states and Canada. 3) All of these men involved themselves in the abolitionist movement by speaking out. They all were against slavery and one in particular, Frederic Douglas, wrote many books after being freed from slavery. He was also invited to go on tour and make speeches about antislavery.