Cotton gin

Revolutionized the production of cotton by mechanically separating cotton fibers from their seeds, which greatly sped up the process. Its adoption in the US led to a higher demand for slave labor, intensifying the economic reliance on slavery and indirectly contributing to the Civil War. Gin is short for "engine"
 Eli Whitney United States 1793 Cotton gin

Revolutionized the production of cotton by mechanically separating cotton fibers from their seeds, which greatly sped up the process. Its adoption in the US led to a higher demand for slave labor, intensifying the economic reliance on slavery and indirectly contributing to the Civil War. Gin is short for "engine"