Promoters of mercantilism petitioned state legislatures for assistance. Legislatures granted special charters, rights, and laws to private companies to promote economic growth and the market economy. As a large and undeveloped nation, the United States lacked an efficient transportation system, and needed to raise large amounts of revenue to fund infrastructure improvements. American entrepreneurs encouraged expansion by developing rural manufacturing networks like the ones in Europe. Enterprising merchants bought raw materials, hired workers in farm families to process them, and sold the finished manufactured goods in regional or national markets. Merchants shipped shoes, brooms, and palm leaf hats as well as cups, baking pans, and other tin utensils to stores in seaport cities. This business expansion resulted innovations in organizing production. Also, during the 1780’s, New England and Middle Atlantic merchants built water powered mills to run machines that combed wool and later cotton into long strands. The growth of manufacturing offered farm families new opportunities and new risks as well.…