The Rise And Decline Of New England Textile Industry From 1790 To 1940

New England is the place where American textile industry origins. And the textile industry played a very important role in New England development process. Since the foundation of the United States, the rise and decline of the New England region had a tight connection with its textile industry. The main aim of this dissertation is trying discussing the historical changes of New England textile industry.Chapter one discusses the rise of New England textile industry. From the early period of the United States to 1830, making full use of its advantages, with the support of federal and state governments, New England achieved a great progress in textile industry by the time of 1830, although it has been a hard start. And this period was considered to be the rising period of the New England textile industry. The rise of its textile industry made New England become one of the most developed regions in America. The dissertation discusses the factors of rising from the aspects of dependence, tax, finance, labor, technology, material and geographical position.1830 to 1880 was the period when New England textile industry stepped into a further development. In this period, America was experiencing the first industrial revolution and the nation has comprehended all kinds of British main industrial technologies. Sometimes, they improved the technologies, which made the United States ranked one of the leading countries in the second industrial revolution. In this fine economy background, New England textile industry made a further development and the Massachusetts became the textile industry center of the New England. The dissertation also tries making a comparison between Massachusetts and Lancashire, which was the textile industry center in Britain.1880 to 1940 was the period of New England textile industry going mature and declining. Generally speaking, it was usually divided into two particular periods: 1880 to 1920 was the mature period; 1920 to 1940 was the declining period. New England textile machines went old and managers didn't want to renew them immediately for saving of money. So the productivity was declining gradually. What's more, textile companies had to spare a large number of money to union welfare, which led to the bankruptcy of many textile companies or moving to the south of the America. The south textile companies challenged the New England as the development of south textile industry. The dissertation analyzes the causes of New England textile industry going to decline in detail. Facing the decline of the textile industry, New England state governments and chambers of commerce took all kinds of measures to save their textile industry.