Final answer:
The United States was predominantly dependent on Great Britain for manufactured goods in its early history. This situation changed after the War of 1812, when America's industrialization began to take off, eventually transforming the US into an independent manufacturing powerhouse.
Step-by-step explanation:
For much of its early history, the United States was dependent on Great Britain for manufactured goods. Following the American Revolution and leading up to the War of 1812, the US mainly exported raw materials like cotton and tobacco while importing finished goods such as cotton fabric and tobacco products from Britain. This reliance was in part due to British attempts to maintain economic superiority by preventing the spread of manufacturing knowledge outside the empire. However, with the rise of industrialization after the War of 1812, America began to develop its own manufacturing sector, first with mills reliant on water power in the Northeast and later expanding with the advent of steam power. The industrial boom was further catalyzed by the Civil War and innovations such as the electric lightbulb and the telephone, transforming the nation into a manufacturing powerhouse.
The trading pattern continued to evolve over time, transitioning the US economy from one dependent on foreign manufactured goods to a leader in producing not only raw materials but also manufactured goods for both domestic consumption and international markets.