Page "Rhode Island" Paragraph 34

In addition to the slave trade, Rhode Island was also heavily involved in the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution began in America in 1787 when Thomas Somers reproduced textile machine plans he imported from England.

He helped to produce the Beverly Cotton Manufactory, which Moses Brown of Providence took an interest in.

Teaming up with Samuel Slater, Moses Brown helped to create the second cotton mill in America, a water-powered textile mill.

As the Industrial Revolution moved large numbers of workers into the cities, a permanently landless, and therefore voteless, class developed.

By 1829, 60 % of the state's free white males were ineligible to vote.

After several unsuccessful attempts to address this problem, a new state constitution was passed in 1843 allowing landless white men to vote if they could pay a $ 1 poll tax.