samuel slater was the man responsible for bringing new textile machines to the united states.
who was the man responsible for bringing new textile machines to the united states?
samuel slater
in 1793, samuel slater (1768–1835) founded the slater mill at pawtucket, rhode island. he had learned of the new textile technologies as a boy apprentice in derbyshire, england, and defied laws against the emigration of skilled workers by leaving for new york in 1789, hoping to make money with his knowledge. after founding slater's mill, he went on to own 13 textile mills. daniel day established a wool carding mill in the blackstone valley at uxbridge, massachusetts in 1809, the third woollen mill established in the us (the first was in hartford, connecticut, and the second at watertown, massachusetts.) the john h. chafee blackstone river valley national heritage corridor retraces the history of "america's hardest-working river', the blackstone. the blackstone river and its tributaries, which cover more than from worcester, massachusetts to providence, rhode island, was the birthplace of america's industrial revolution. at its peak over 1,100 mills operated in this valley, including slater's mill, and with it the earliest beginnings of america's industrial and technological development.
industrial revolution
the tariff act of 1789 imposed the first national source of revenue for the newly formed united states. the new u.s. constitution ratified in 1789, allowed only the federal government to levy uniform tariffs. only the federal government could set tariff rates (customs), so the old system of separate state rates disappeared. the new law taxed all imports at rates from 5 to 15 percent. these rates were primarily designed to generate revenue to pay the annual expenses of the federal government and the national debt and the debts the states had accumulated during the american war of independence and to also promote manufactures and independence from foreign nations, especially for defense needs. hamilton believed that all revolutionary war debt should be paid in full to establish and keep u.s. financial credibility. in addition to income in his report on manufactures treasury secretary alexander hamilton proposed a far-reaching plan to use protective tariffs as a lever for rapid industrialization. in the late 18th century the industrial age was just starting and the united states had little or no textile industry—the heart of the early industrial revolution. the british government having just lost the revolutionary war tried to maintain their near monopoly on cheap and efficient textile manufacturing by prohibiting the export of textile machines, machine models or the emigration of people familiar with these machines. clothing in the early united states was nearly all hand made by a very time consuming and expensive process—just like it had been made for centuries before. the new textile manufacturing techniques in britain were often over thirty times cheaper as well as being easier to use, more efficient and productive. hamilton believed that a stiff tariff on imports would not only raise income but "protect" and help subsidize early efforts at setting up manufacturing facilities that could compete with british products.
tariff in united states history