Who’s Who

Eli Whitney- In 1793, Eli Whitney created the Cotton gin, which was one of the beginning machines and technology of the Industrial Revolution. This machine was designed to sort and remove seeds of cotton from its fiber. With this machine, one worker could clean the cotton faster than 50 people by hand. This innovation later affected slavery and the usage of laborers. In 1798, Whitney developed a manufacturing plan to construct interchangeable parts. With this idea, pieces of items, tools, and machines would be made in large quantities and be identical. This allowed producing and replacing products much easier. This design eventually led to the selling of goods on a large mass.   

Samuel Slater- Samuel Slater had worked in a British factory created by Richard Arkwright that spun cotton threads. In 1789, Samuel Slater ran from the factory and came back to the United States. Here he copied all of the machines used in the British factory and began a mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His creation was one of the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution and the usage of machines for handwork.

Francis Cabot Lowell- Francis Lowell was a wealthy New Englander that used $400,000 to start the Boston Manufacturing Company. He improved the design of the British power looms. Lowell’s new design used an “entirely new arrangement, in order to save labor, in passing from one process to another.” Lowell’s mills initiated the factory system. This was a very important part for the Industrial Revolution. 

Robert Fulton- Robert Fulton created the Clermont in 1807, a steamboat that would be used to carry cargo and passengers from the across the Hudson River to New York City. It required a powerful and noisy engine, but gave a smooth comfortable ride. It set a new standard in river travel that lowered the cost of shipping goods and improved the transporting of goods and passengers.

De Witt Clinton- De Witt Clinton led government officials with the plan of a canal that would link New York City and the Great Lakes. It would act as an artificial waterway and would benefit inland trade.

Henry Clay- Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1811. He created the plan of the American System, which consisted of 3 parts to help the economy and growing businesses of the nation. As Congress adapted little parts of his plan however, he was disappointed of how little of it went into effect.