Samuel Slater Textile Mill
By: Shruti Asodaria
Who was Samuel Slater?
Samuel Slater was a farmer in England who had came to the Americas. Later he became known as " The Father of the American Industrial Revolution". Believing that the textile industry in Britain had reached its peak, and after learning that America was offering bounties for textile information Slater emigrated secretly in 1789 to America. In England he was called, " Slater the Traitor" for taking the secrets of UK manufacturing to the Americas.
What did he do?
Samuel Slader spread the newly innovated textile mill, introducing the spinning wheel to spin the cotton. Since it was illegal at the time to export anything to America relating to machinery, Slater memorized plans in hopes of making his fortune in America's textile industry. Slater brought the secret of making cotton thread quickly and cheaply by machines.
The Water Powered Textile Mill
Samuel Slayer used the idea of building the textile mill powered by water. At first the mill was powered by children push foot treadles but this was later powered by the water. He built the first water powered textile mill in 1793. This type of mill spread throughout the country. Slater even made a whole community that contained solely these mills named Slatersville.
Inside Slater's Textile Mill
Layout of A Water Powered Textile Mill
Slater's Textile Mill
American Identity
The innovation of adding the water wheel to the textile mills in America helped shape the american identity by expanding industrialism. As we know this mill was just the beginning of the industrial innovation that would later come. This water powered mill was seen as effective and soon these mills were being built all around the country. This innovation expanded from the North to the South.
How this invention changed everything
The water powered mill became the country's leading force in economic growth. This innovation speed up the process of work done by hand, also there were many of them which added to the less need of time consuming hand work. This drove many people that lived in rural areas to move into the cities for work. It affected everyday live for the people because now that they had jobs, this increasing factory industry had led to insufficient work conditions. Most of these factories were highly unsafe and promoted child labor. These of many issues would lead to the industrial revolution.
How This Invention Contribute to the American identity in the Antebellum Period
This invention contributed to the american identity in the Antebellum Period by setting the stage for the beginning of shifting the north to manufacturing as the Industrial Revolution began, while in the south, a cotton boom made plantations the center of the economy. The textile mill was an important part of manufacturing in this period.
Works Cited
"1770’s - Water-Powered Textile Mill." 1770’s - Water-Powered Textile Mill. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
"Antebellum Period." History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
"The First American Factories." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
"Samuel Slater - Father of the American Industrial Revolution." Samuel Slater - Father of the American Industrial Revolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
"Samuel Slater." About.com Inventors. About.com, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
"Samuel Slater Page." Samuel Slater Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.