How DID Cotton Impact U.S. History?

Student Questions

1. When did cotton cultivation begin in Jamestown? Who brought it in and started it?

2. How did cotton impact the economy of Jamestown?

3. What type of cotton was cultivated in Jamestown and how was it grown?

4. How much cotton did Jamestown produce each year?

5. Was cotton more important than tobacco economically in Jamestown in the seventeenth century?

6. What was produced or made first with cotton in Jamestown?

Context and Sources:

Cotton cultivation in the Jamestown colony, which was established in Virginia in 1607, began somewhat later than the initial settlement. Cotton as a cash crop did not become a significant part of Jamestown's economy immediately. The early colonists struggled with various issues and initially focused on other commodities like tobacco, which became Virginia's primary export in the early 17th century.

While cotton was grown in small amounts for local use, it was not until the 18th century that cotton started to become more economically significant in the American colonies. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 was a pivotal moment, as it made the processing of short-staple cotton much more efficient, which then led to a boom in cotton production in the southern United States. This boom, however, was much later than the early years of Jamestown.

1. How long did slaves have to work in the fields to pick cotton? How much cotton did they have to pick daily?

2. Were there slave rebellions due to cotton cultivation in the South? If so, how many?

3. Once the cotton season was over what other types of jobs did slaves do on the plantations?

4. How much cotton did slavery produce yearly?

5. What was the daily or weekly consumption of calories needed for slaves during the cotton season?

1. What type of cotton was popular to grow in the southern states?

2. How much cotton was produced yearly in the southern states? (sources: one, two, three, four)

3.  What country imported it the most?

4. What was the first southern state to grow cotton? 

5. Which state produces the most cotton today?

6. Is cotton still an important crop today in the South and in the US economy?

7. Was cotton only grown in southern states?

8. Was cotton grown inland or along the coastal states?

1. Did Continental soldiers wear cotton uniforms made from southern states? (Source one, two) 

2. Were there any types of cotton products made or imported into the colonies that were taxed by England? 

3. What role/impact did cotton play in the American Revolution? (Additional Source)

4. What was the price of cotton during the Revolutionary War?

5. Did England rely on the colonies to produce cotton and was it part of the triangular trade route?

6. Did the price of cotton change (inflation) during the American Revolution?