The Importance Of Slavery's Contribution To The Industrial Revolution

Slavery was closely linked to the Industrial Revolution. According to class lecture, cotton plantation production boomed in the south and slave labor was needed to harvest the cotton and tend the cotton gins. The northern industries also benefited from slavery since they were supplied with cotton harvested by slaves. A primary source is the picture of a huge cotton gin shown in class that demonstrates how technological innovation contributed to the south’s success in becoming the world’s largest producer and provider of cotton. The new economies were intertwined as southern cotton feed northern textile mills. Although the northern states were against slavery, they contributed in the slave economy in the south. However, not all blacks were involved
in slave labor during the revolution. In the North, some free blacks took stable, low paying jobs such as porters in hotels, barbers, merchant seamen, and servants of wealthy families. A few blacks were able to become successful entrepreneurs and skilled tradesmen. Primary sources depicted blacks The Industrial Revolution may have played a significant role in revitalizing the institution of slavery, but it also provided economic opportunities for free blacks as well.