The Cotton Economy

The Industrial Revolution brought significant change to those living in Tennessee and the greater United States. The growing of cotton and Eli Whitney’s introduction of the cotton gin were responsible for much of the economic growth in antebellum Tennessee. 

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The Cotton Economy
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Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

The goal of this lesson is to look closely at a cotton boll and connect the impact of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin invention to the  industrial Revolution. In this lesson, students will become active learners as they view a primary source, examine cotton bolls and read a non-fiction passage. A reading comprehension assessment is also included. 

Essential and guiding questions: 
  • Identify lesson vocabulary
    • cotton boll-the seed-bearing part of the cotton plant in which the cotton fibers are formed
    • fiber- a fine, threadlike piece, produced by the cotton plant
    • cotton gin- a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds
  • Who invented the cotton gin?
  • How would you describe cotton bolls?
  • What facts would you select to support the cotton gin as an important invention?
  • Can you elaborate on the reason why the cotton gin was necessary?
  • Can you explain how the cotton gin affected the process of making cloth?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying

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