Inventing the Cotton Gin
While he was tutoring in South Carolina, Eli noticed the lack of cash crops in the South. He realized that harvesting cotton was difficult and time consuming. He started sketching designs for a machine that would clean and harvest the cotton in a short amount of time.
He later presented a prototype to some colleges, and they were thrilled with his idea.
He later presented a prototype to some colleges, and they were thrilled with his idea.
Patenting the Gin
Cotton gin patent
Patenting the Cotton Gin and difficult. Farmers refused to buy Eli's gin and made their own version of the machine. Soon, the cotton gin was pirated throughout the South, preventing Eli from making a profit from it. After many discussion and letters, Eli's cotton gin was finally patented in 1794.