The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, significantly transformed American history by revolutionizing cotton production. This device efficiently separated cotton fibers from seeds, drastically reducing the time required for processing. As a result, cotton became the dominant cash crop in the Southern United States, leading to an economic boom in the region. However, it also exacerbated the reliance on enslaved labor to cultivate and harvest cotton fields. The cotton gin's impact contributed to the growth of slavery, regional economic disparities, and ultimately played a role in the tensions leading to the Civil War, shaping the trajectory of American society.