Cotton

Definition

Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of cotton plants. It was one of the world's leading agricultural crops and played an essential role in the global economy from 1500 to 1900.

Related terms

Cotton Gin: A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, enabling much greater productivity than manual cotton separation.

Plantation System: A system of large-scale agriculture that concentrates on growing a single cash crop (like cotton) for sale. This system often relied heavily on slave labor.

Industrial Revolution: The transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the U.S., from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840. This included going from hand production methods to machines, which greatly increased demand for raw materials like cotton.