Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin in 1793 transformed American agriculture. By quickly separating cotton fibers from seeds, it made cotton a profitable crop—and deeply impacted the economy of the South. But the invention also had serious consequences, increasing the demand for enslaved labor. This episode looks at Whitney’s life, the invention itself, and how it shaped U.S. history for better and worse.

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