This detailed history of the cotton industry in the United States charts the rise of cotton production from the colonial period to the mid-19th century. The book examines the various factors that contributed to the growth of the industry, including the invention of new machinery, the expansion of transportation networks, and the role of slavery in cotton production. This volume is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the economic and social forces that shaped American history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.