---
title: Whitney's Cotton Gin
author: Tom Murphy VII
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17296/whitneys-cotton-gin/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2023-04-20
---
# Whitney's Cotton Gin
_Authored by Tom Murphy VII_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17296.png)
## Image Caption
A cotton gin (machine), invented by Eli Whitney (1765-1825) in the United States in 1794 during the [Industrial Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Industrial_Revolution/). The machine was used to clean raw cotton and separate it from sticky seeds by pulling the cotton balls through a comb mesh and mechanism of revolving [metal](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/metal/) teeth and hooks. The machine greatly speeded up cotton production for spinning machines since a single cotton gin could process up to 25 kg (55 lbs) of cotton every day. Another consequence was the increased use of slaves to pick sufficient cotton to feed the gins.
Eli Whitney Museum, Hamden, Connecticut, USA
## Cite This Work
### APA
VII, T. M. (2023, April 17). Whitney's Cotton Gin. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
VII, Tom Murphy. "Whitney's Cotton Gin." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 17, 2023. .
### MLA
VII, Tom Murphy. "Whitney's Cotton Gin." *World History Encyclopedia*, 17 Apr 2023, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cotton_gin_EWM_2007.jpg) by [**Tom Murphy VII**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cotton_gin_EWM_2007.jpg). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 17 April 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.