Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin was probably Eli Whitney's most famous invention. It sped up cotton producing by separating the cotton fibers from their seeds. It produced 55 pounds of cleaned cotton. It was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 and patented in 1794. People thought that it would lessen slavery, but it actually did exactly the opposite. Since it sped up producing cotton, farmers needed more slaves to pick the cotton. Unfortunately, people made new cotton gins and claimed it as their own. In 1812, Eli Whitney renewed his patent for the cotton gin. Even so, it was one of the biggest inventions ever and made Eli Whitney famous.