GMAS 8th Grade Social Studies Practice Test

Which invention increased cotton production and contributed to the demand for enslaved labor?

Spinning Jenny Seed Drill Power Loom Cotton Gin

Correct Answer:

Cotton Gin

Explanation:

The cotton gin dramatically changed cotton production by quickly separating cotton fibers from seeds. That efficiency made cleaning vast amounts of cotton profitable, encouraging planters to plant more cotton across the South. As cotton production expanded, the demand for labor to plant, tend, and harvest it grew, and enslaved people were the primary workers on these plantations. So, while other inventions like the Spinning Jenny, Seed Drill, or Power Loom advanced different parts of the textile and farming systems, the cotton gin specifically boosted cotton output and, in turn, increased the demand for enslaved labor.

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