How did the widespread use of the cotton gin impact slavery in the South? ◇ It increased the number of slaves because the cotton gin made it possible to grow more cotton. ◇ It ended the need for slaves because plantations automated their cotton harvesting processes. ◇ It reduced the need for slaves because the cotton gin could do the work slaves had been doing. ◇ It ended restrictions on educating slaves because they needed to be able to read and write to operate a cotton gin.