Lakwete shows how indentured British, and later enslaved Africans, built and used foot-powered models to process the cotton they grew for export. After Eli Whitney patented his wire-toothed gin, southern mechanics transformed it into the saw gin, offering stiff competition to northern manufacturers.

"In graphic novel format, tells the story of how Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, and the effects it had on the South"--Provided by publisher.

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Presents a biography of the inventor who created the cotton gin as well as a machine that could mass-produce muskets.