What invention enabled an economic boom in the South and created a demand for new land in the West?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eli Whitney's cotton gin revolutionized cotton production in the South by greatly increasing efficiency and speeding up the process of separating cotton fibers from the seeds. This led to a significant increase in demand for cotton and a corresponding increase in demand for land to grow it on. The economic boom in the South created by the cotton industry also led to an increased demand for goods and services, including from the rapidly expanding new territories in the West.

What Invention Enabled an Economic Boom in the South and Created