Question

in 1793, eli whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine to remove cotton from the seeds. this invention allowed one field hand to do the same amount of work as ten, which meant more cotton could be cleaned and prepared. which statement below describes a negative outcome of this invention?
a other planters built similar copies of the cotton gin machine and made money off their design.
b more people were needed to plant and pick cotton so plantation owners used slaves to fill these positions.
c in the decade following the invention, cotton production rose from 3,000 bales a year to 100,000 bales a year.
d great britain and other european countries wanted to use the cotton to make clothes, so there was an increase in demand.

Explanation:

• Option A: Building copies and making money is a positive aspect related to economic gain from the invention.
• Option B: The use of slaves to meet the increased labor demand for cotton planting and picking due to the cotton gin's efficiency is a negative outcome as it perpetuated the inhumane institution of slavery.
• Option C: Increase in cotton production is a positive result of the invention's efficiency.
• Option D: Increased demand for cotton (to make clothes) is a positive economic - related outcome.

Answer:

B. More people were needed to plant and pick cotton so plantation owners used slaves to fill these positions.