Date Created:
Year Created: 1794
Description:
Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, patented on March 14, 1794, revolutionized American agriculture by efficiently separating cotton fiber from its seeds. While similar machines had existed for centuries, Whitney’s design was the first to effectively clean short-staple cotton. A single device could process up to fifty pounds of cotton per day, making cotton a highly profitable crop.
Categories of Documents:
Source: The National Archives
Citation:
Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin Patent Drawing; 3/14/1794; Restored Patent Drawings, 1837 - 1847; Records of the Patent and Trademark Office, Record Group 241; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.