Industrializing Antebellum America
Industrializing Antebellum America The Rise of Manufacturing Entrepreneurs in the Early Republic Barbara M. Tucker Kenneth H. Tucker, Jr. palgrave macmillan
INDUSTRIALIZING ANTEBELLUM AMERICA Copyright Barbara M. Tucker and Kenneth H. Tucker, Jr., 2008. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2008 978-1-4039-8480-7 All rights reserved. First published in 2008 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN in the US a division of St. Martin s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave and Macmillan are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-73879-3 DOI 10.1057/9780230614642 ISBN 978-0-230-61464-2 (ebook) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tucker, Barbara M. Industrialization antebellum america : the rise of manufacturing entrepreneurs in the early republic / Barbara M. Tucker and Kenneth H. Tucker, Jr. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Businesspeople United States Biography. 2. Industrialists United States Biography. 3. Entrepreneurship United States History 19th century. I. Tucker, Kenneth H. II. Title. HC102.5.A2T834 2008 338.092'273 dc22 2008004030 A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Scribe Inc. First edition: September 2008 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Transferred to Digital Printing 2009
To the memory of our parents
Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Part I The Colts: Casino and Crony Capitalism 1 Colt Family Values 13 2 The Education of Samuel Colt 41 3 Samuel Colt: From Industry to American Empire 65 Part II The Slaters: From Paternalism to Contract 4 The Slaters of England and New England 95 5 John Fox and Horatio Nelson Slater: Paternalism, 119 Philanthropy, and the Disciplinary Society Part III The Lawrences: Manufacturing and the Moral Life of an Industrial Urban Elite 6 Amos and Abbott Lawrence: Philanthropy and Politics 161 in Antebellum America 7 Amos Adams Lawrence: The Puritan Warrior and 179 the Destiny of America Conclusion 203 Notes 211 Index 253
Acknowledgments The origins of this project are many. Though in different disciplines we share an interest in nineteenth-century history and its implications for today. We are happy that we were able to translate our interests into this book. But this study has a more specific genesis. Barbara Tucker s postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania many years ago acquainted her with the Roswell Colt papers housed at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Findings were presented to the Center for Early American Studies, but nothing further was done with the project at that time. A second input came from Professor David Brody, Emeritus Professor of History, University of California, Davis, who suggested that a work on Horatio Slater might be in order. That, too, was put on the shelf. Then came a query from Professor James Huston, Oklahoma State University, to write an article on the current state of entrepreneurial history during the Early Republic. Thus the project was set into motion, and it provided an opportunity for collaboration. There are several people who deserve special mention for their assistance on the project. Christopher Clark read several chapters of the manuscript and made astute and valuable comments. He was able to grasp the internal arguments of the chapters, an impressive achievement for a reader. Both James Huston and John Larsen provided insight and encouragement for this study. Sherry Tucker read the entire book and shared her comments with us. Barbara Tucker wishes to thank Eastern Connecticut State University for its continued support. Anka Stanley-Gorling, the interlibrary loan office at J. Eugene Smith library, was able to secure the most obscure materials, and her steadfastness is appreciated. For Kenneth Tucker, a grant from Mount Holyoke College provided some funds for research. He thanks members of the Mount Holyoke College Department of Sociology and Anthropology who heard a presentation on the material and made helpful comments. He is particularly grateful to Sherry, as always, for her graciousness, support, and intelligence. Finally, we wish to thank our sister, Carole Apra, who
x Acknowledgments reminds us of the importance of family, which is such a central feature of this book. Unlike some collaborations that can be a nightmare, working together was a pleasure. Research, discussions, writing, and deadlines all are made easier when working with someone who shares the same goals, discipline, and values. Our parents had much to do with this bond, and to them this book is dedicated.