Question

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4th 1826. Had they lived to see the growth of northern factories including the Lowell System, how might they have responded?

Answer 1

The Waltham Lowell system; better known as the Lowel was a textil system that employed mill girls and the latest textile innovations such as the spinning Jenn and spinning mule, in doing so the New England textile industry became for a short period one of the fatest growing factory systems and at it's time the most profitable, all this occured in the late 1800s long afte rthe deaths of two of Americas most influental minds and founding fathers whom had opposing view on how the path the U.S. economy should take. Thomas Jefferson eschewed city life and factory work and praised country life and farm work; while John Adams was more favorable to factories, championing the American system by Henry Clay. This divide was part in due by the vision each man had of America.  

Jefferson wanted everyone to have a farm part in due to the fact that at the time which they lived only land owners were permitted to vote and partake in political disucssion and part due to his believe that those who owned land and work off there own land were independant thinkers; this believe was due to a fear Jefferson had of Factory and Artisan bosses forcing theior employees to vote a certian way for fear of lossign employements and their for their means of survival

Adams followed the views of Henry Clay  "American System" taking nationalistic steps to protect the fledging industries in America as  well as for the Federal goverment to invest in education, science, art astronomy, agriculture and the creatrion of a cental bank.