After the Americans' victory in the Revolutionary War — and the unshackling of the colonies from the mercantile system of England — the first Congress under the new U.S. Constitution faced some daunting challenges.

America was still dependent on the manufacturing system of England for providing goods in exchange for raw materials. How could Congress encourage America to develop a self-sufficient industrial economy, freeing itself from England and being able to trade directly with the rest of the world?

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Source: http://www.providencejournal.com