WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin in 1794 (his idea was based on earlier gins and also on ideas from other people, including Greene and enslaved laborers; some say that these were the rightful inventors of the cotton gin).

Detailed explanation-2: -The invention of the cotton gin, a device that separates cotton fibers from the seeds, is typically attributed to Eli Whitney, who was granted the patent in 1794. Yet, others contributed to its making-including a woman, Catherine Greene, and African slaves, two groups that gained little recognition for their input.

Detailed explanation-3: -While living on the plantation, Whitney witnessed the difficulties of growing short-staple cotton that had to be picked and cleaned by hand. He took the problem as a challenge and designed a cotton “gin” (derived from the word “engine”).