This lesson focuses on the power of the U.S. Congress to pass laws related to issuing patents. Using Eli Whitney's 1812 Congressional petition to extend the patent on his cotton gin as an example, the lesson correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Government. It contains two primary source documents, the petition, and Whitney's drawing to accompany his original patent awarded in 1794. The lesson provides historical background by telling Eli Whitney's story and discussing his invention and its effects in the South. It lists four resources for further reading and provides sample written document analysis worksheet. The unit suggests teaching activities for document analysis, for creative writing, for debate, for role play, and for relating the past to the present. (BT)