‘Cotton is King’ was a slogan in America that illustrated its importance to the economy and its role in the development of the American economy. Slave trade opened the door for exploitation of resources, and it led to the expansion of the agricultural sector, which required intensive labor. However, the invention of the cotton gin made a historic mark in the cotton industry and the overall economy (Brown 99). It increased efficiency in cotton production hence triggered the demand for slaves who would contribute to growing the cotton. The slave trade was beneficial to America through offering labor and other skills for growth and production of cotton. The growth of the cotton industry, therefore, had both positive and negative implications since it led to the expansion of the economy while promoting social evils that accompanied slavery.
Machinery improves efficiency and effectiveness hence saves time and increased production of a commodity. The cotton gin increased the level of cotton production in America since it made its production easier. Cotton had been a commercial commodity of the Americans for a long time, and its production was approximately 750,000 bales in 1830 but by 1850, the production had increased to 2.85 million bales (Bruchey 67). The use of the cotton gin contributed to this increase in production since it made it easier to separate cotton from the seeds. This saved on production time and increased the amount of cotton produced per day.
Cotton production concentrated only in the south due to weather conditions that supported the growth of cotton. The invention of the cotton gin, therefore, triggered the growth of cotton in large-scale through the establishment of plantations. The landowners in the region benefited immensely from these developments since they received larger returns from their produce. The high production capacity of the crop also increased the level of trading in the area hence improving the economy in general (Bruchey 96). However, the South was the only beneficiary of the crop’s growth and production hence the alienation of the north from receiving these benefits. The south, therefore, thrived and became a large economy during this era. However, without the free labor provided by the slaves, the production would not have grown as it did then. The free labor was also crucial in lowering the cost of production.
The improvement in production of cotton led to an increase in the demand for labor and the increase in the increase in cotton production. The emergence of cotton plantation in the South meant an increase in demand for labor to cultivate the land and grow enough cotton to match its demand at the factories. Manual labor was, therefore, very important to the cotton industry at this point hence the decision of landowners to acquire slaves who would work on their lands (Bruchey 71). The slaves would carry out the growing and harvesting of cotton in the plantations. They would also take part in the production of the cotton at the factory. Use of the cotton gin did not eliminate the need for workers at the point of production hence slaves offered these services.
Demand for slaves in the south triggered the intensification of the slave trade, which was the source of slaves. This triggered the expansion of the middle passage through which merchants obtained slaves from Africa and transported them to America (Bruchey 127). The high demand necessitated the acquisition of more slaves from Africa hence the need to collude with African leaders who would surrender their tough subjects to the merchants. The transportation of slaves to their destination was famous for its harsh conditions due to the brutality of the merchants. The slaves had no idea the kind of life awaiting them in America since they would live the rest of their lives as slaves. Some of them died during transit while others were lucky to survive and witness the other side of life. As the demand for slaves increased, the slave trade expanded and acquired more and more slaves. Since the South had a higher demand for slaves than the north, most slaves ended up in the south where the mostly required the labor.
Commoditization of slaves became a major phenomenon in America during this era of high cotton production. Americans developed the view that slaves were commodities rather than human beings due to the slave trade (Brown 123). The ability of buying and selling a slave made them appear as a trade commodity to the society. Americans could easily make orders on the number of slaves they needed to work on their plantations. They also took part in auctions where the highest bidder walked away with the slave of their choice. It was, therefore, common for Americans to measure their wealth according to the number of slaves owned since slaves were part of property. The value of slaves during this period increased and in 1860, it was approximately three times the amount invested in banks and seven times the total amount of currency in the country. Slaves were also more valuable than the entire cotton production in the country hence it made economic sense to own as many slaves as possible. This indicates just how valuable the slaves were to the American economy and their commoditization. However, treating slaves as commodities led to brutality and inhuman treatment subjected by their masters who felt they had a right to treat them as they pleased.
Slave-produced cotton increased it value due to the growth of the cotton industry in America increasing the economic performance of the region. The cotton gin increased activity in the cotton industry by increasing cotton growing and production hence increasing the amount available for sale. From 1803 to 1937, cotton became the leading export commodity in America (Brown 111). This triggered the emergence of industries such as transportation and shipping industries in the region to move cotton from one place to the other. This increased the economic activities happening in the region and facilitated the exchange of money from one person to the other. It also contributed to the growth of the north part since most shipping occurred from this point. The north developed supporting industries that facilitated and supplemented the cotton industry.
In conclusion, cotton, and the cotton gin played a crucial role in the development of the US economy in the 1800s (Bruchey 45). It expanded the agricultural industry through the establishment of cotton plantations in the south, which produced a high level of cotton demanded in factories. The cotton gin increased the level of cotton production output required for export to other countries. Cotton also led to the emergence of various industries such as shipping that emerged in the north hence balancing the economic growth of the entire region. The supporting industries had to be established to facilitate the Despite the positive implications of cotton, it had a negative side due to its contribution to the expansion of slave trade and commoditization of slaves. This created an enabling environment for the cruelty and brutality experienced by slaves. Cotton was particularly crucial to the economy of the South where it was farmed in large plantations. The free labor provided by slaves also facilitated the production of cotton in many firms.
Works Cited
Brown, Clayton. King Cotton in Modern America: A Cultural, Political, and Economic History since 1945. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. 2011. Print.
Bruchey, Stuart. Cotton and the Growth of the American Economy, 1790-1860. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World Publishers. 2000. Print.
