How did Eli Whitneys invention of the cotton gin help expand slavery?

Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793 revolutionized cotton production by significantly speeding up the process of separating cotton fibers from seeds. This efficiency led to a dramatic increase in cotton cultivation in the southern United States, which created a higher demand for labor to plant and harvest the crops. As a result, plantation owners expanded their use of enslaved labor to meet the growing demands of the cotton industry, thereby entrenching and expanding the institution of slavery in the region.