Prior to the invention of the cotton gin, cotton production in the South was limited due to the labor-intensive process of separating seeds from fibers. It was not a major economic force.

The invention of the cotton gin led to a rapid increase in cotton production, transforming the Southern economy. Plantations expanded and demand for land and labor (especially slave labor) surged.

During the period of Whitney's gun manufacturing and later life, cotton became the dominant crop in the South, fueling economic growth but also solidifying the institution of slavery. The South became increasingly dependent on cotton exports.

Even after Whitney's death, cotton continued to be 'King' in the South. This reliance on cotton and slave labor contributed to growing tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the Civil War.