The word antebellum refers to a period of time preceding a significant war; therefore, the antebellum era in America generally refers to the decades following the War of 1812 leading up to the Civil War. This period is generally characterized as a time of economic growth, largely due to the success of the cotton plantations in the South. These plantations already benefited from free labor (slaves). Their increased success during the antebellum era stemmed from technological advances that enhanced the production of cotton. For example, Eli Whitney’s cotton gin helped speed up how cotton was processed, and the power loom and eventually sewing machines helped make the cotton into a finished product more quickly. These inventions helped keep up with the growing demand for cotton, but unfortunately this also meant that there was an increased demand for slave labor.