Data Literacy for Social Studies, Ginned Cotton per State, 1850 vs. 1860

We created this graph using a table from the 1860 U.S. Census to illustrate the amount of ginned cotton produced per state in 1860 compared to 1850. The spreadsheets found here include the original table, a recreated table, and the graph. Because the amount of ginned cotton produced in some states was so small relative to other states, the graph only shows the top ten cotton-producing states. Cotton was an extremely important cash crop, accounting for over half of all American exports during the 19th century. The southern states produced the majority of cotton, relying heavily on enslaved labor to do so. The graph shows the sharp increase in ginned cotton production over just one decade. For example, Mississippi's ginned cotton production more than doubled from 1850 to 1860 and Louisiana’s more than tripled. This booming cotton industry, which was fueled by population growth, improved transportation networks, and urbanization, played a major role in the rapid growth and expansion of slavery and increased its importance to the economies of the southern states.