How Did Eli Whitney Build The Cotton Gin

Eli Whitney was an influential person in American history because he created the cotton gin. Eli Whitney was also known as an american inventor, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer. Famous for developing the concept of mass production and interchangeable parts. Born on December 8th,1765, in Westboro Massachusetts Eli Whitney went to Yale college, where he studied many conceptions in the areas of science and applied arts. After graduation, in the fall of 1792, Whitney was denied two promised posts as an educator. Eli Whitney’s second job post ended up bringing him to Georgia, and since he did not get the teaching position he found himself inactive, destitute and distant from his home. Nonetheless, Whitney befriended Catherine Green and Phineas Miller. Catherine Green and Phineas Miller his new found friends supported the development of the cotton gin and worked to help build the cotton gin.

The cotton gin could remove fifty pounds worth of seeds in one day. Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1794, but after only three years Eli and Phineas went out of business because many people were reluctant to pay for the cotton gins services, so it fell victim to piracy by many plantation owners and was improved for their own use. The patent laws had many loopholes and did not result in Whitneys favor. As of 1802 Whitney and Miller got about half of the money (about fifty thousand dollars that they had asked for their patent rights). During the mid nineteenth century America's leading export was cotton but, it ultimately resulted in more slaves as it was cheaper and faster to get cotton; most farmers started growing bigger crops which meant there was a need for more