How Did Eli Whitney Impact On America
Eli Whitney’s Effects on America
Eli Whitney was one of the greatest inventors in American History. Eli Whitney’s invention of the Cotton Gin helped bring prosperity to the South, expand slavery, and lead to a civil war. Eli also is credited for popularizing the idea of mass production and interchangeable parts. All of Eli Whitney’s ideas changed the entire country and played a significant role in the history.
Eli Whitney was born in Massachusetts in 1765. Eli worked in his father’s nail shop as a teenager. Eli Whitney attended Yale College and graduated in 1792. Eli after college ended up in Georgia on Mrs. Greene’s plantation. Mrs. Greene had offered Eli the opportunity to read law while helping on the plantation. While on the plantation …show more content…
Due to the simplicity of his cotton gin, Whitney’s design was easily imitated. Whitney had tried to patent his product but he failed and lost all his money in legal fees. Being almost bankrupt Whitney accepted a weapons contract from the United States War Department in 1798. There had been a war scare with France and the U.S. realized the need for weapons and started contracting. Eli Whitney was to make 10,000 to 15,000 muskets by 1800. He had never made a musket in his life. Whitney learned the trade and began manufacturing. Whitney was supposed to deliver the arms in one year but it took him eight years. Eli used countless excuses and charades to buy more time with the government. Whitney used the idea of interchangeable parts with his muskets. He amazed the government with his interchangeable parts idea. He did not create the idea although he is often credited with it. Whitney did play an important role in popularizing mass production and interchangeable parts. This system of interchangeable parts played a big role in Northern States. The North was comprised of factories and manufacturing companies. Interchangeable parts made these factories more efficient and productive. This significantly helped boost the economy of Northern States for years to come and has impacted how we manufacture things to this
Eli Whitney was one of the greatest inventors in American History. Eli Whitney’s invention of the Cotton Gin helped bring prosperity to the South, expand slavery, and lead to a civil war. Eli also is credited for popularizing the idea of mass production and interchangeable parts. All of Eli Whitney’s ideas changed the entire country and played a significant role in the history.
Eli Whitney was born in Massachusetts in 1765. Eli worked in his father’s nail shop as a teenager. Eli Whitney attended Yale College and graduated in 1792. Eli after college ended up in Georgia on Mrs. Greene’s plantation. Mrs. Greene had offered Eli the opportunity to read law while helping on the plantation. While on the plantation …show more content…
Due to the simplicity of his cotton gin, Whitney’s design was easily imitated. Whitney had tried to patent his product but he failed and lost all his money in legal fees. Being almost bankrupt Whitney accepted a weapons contract from the United States War Department in 1798. There had been a war scare with France and the U.S. realized the need for weapons and started contracting. Eli Whitney was to make 10,000 to 15,000 muskets by 1800. He had never made a musket in his life. Whitney learned the trade and began manufacturing. Whitney was supposed to deliver the arms in one year but it took him eight years. Eli used countless excuses and charades to buy more time with the government. Whitney used the idea of interchangeable parts with his muskets. He amazed the government with his interchangeable parts idea. He did not create the idea although he is often credited with it. Whitney did play an important role in popularizing mass production and interchangeable parts. This system of interchangeable parts played a big role in Northern States. The North was comprised of factories and manufacturing companies. Interchangeable parts made these factories more efficient and productive. This significantly helped boost the economy of Northern States for years to come and has impacted how we manufacture things to this