Introduction

Cotton has been one of the most important agricultural crops in the history of the US economy. After the invention of the cotton gin in the late 1700s, cotton replaced tobacco as the number one wealth-producing crop in the United States. The significance of cotton to the US economy and politics is captured in the phrase that was used frequently in the 1800s, especially by Americans in the South, when they referred to cotton as “King Cotton.” 

In order to grow, cotton needs a hot and humid climate. That is why cotton has been cultivated in the United States mostly in the Southern states. Before the Civil War, work needed to cultivate cotton was done largely by enslaved African Americans. The enslaved were the primary producers of the Southern wealth tied to cotton production. But the North benefited from the enslaved labor too. With the rapid development of industrialization in the North, cotton produced by slaves in the South was often processed and turned into cotton fabric in Northern factories. Northern ports also became trade centers, from which American cotton and cotton products were shipped to other countries.    

After the Civil War, the abolition of slavery, technological advancements, and changing consumer needs all shaped new trends in cotton production. In this activity, you will examine four photos that document the process of cotton production in Arkansas in the early 20th century (1900s). Until today, Arkansas remains one of the largest cotton-producing states in the United States.