revolution

One of the greatest problems that existed in the South was "how to produce enough cotton to meet the demands of England's newly invented spinning and weaving machines?" (Compton's Encyclopedia, Eli Whitney) There were two types of cottons grown on plantations: "A black-seed, long-staple cotton was easily cleaned, but it grew only near the coast, while a green-seed, short-staple variety grew in inland areas but resisted cleaning since its fiber stuck to the seed
             " (Compton's) "Before cotton can be used, the fibers must be separated from the seeds." (Compton's) It takes about one day to get a pound of cotton if the fibers are being separated by hand. (Compton's) Whitney discovered a way to resolve the issue regarding the green-seed by inventing a machine to clean the green-seed cotton. Whitney based his renderings never having seen raw cotton. He just assumed that comb-like teeth were imperative. Whitney had designed a crude model within days. "Based on simple principles, the cotton gin was finished in 1793. By 1800 cotton production had increased from about 3,000 bales a year to 73,000. His cotton-cleaning invention brought prosperity to the South." (Compton's) The steam engine was perhaps one of the greatest inventions during the 1700's. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the steam engine was improved to increase its work potential. In 1698, the purpose of the steam engine was to pump water. The demand for the steam engine had been minimal until the establishment of factories. "In the days before 1760 most industries were carried out in the home or in small workshops where the muscles of men, and women, provided the power." (Storer, 50) The key motivation behind the invention of the steam engine, was the need for power. Edmund Cartwright developed a loom that would be powered by a steam engine. (50-51) In time, "The spinning wheel started to become obsolete, a steam-powered factory had been established.