Final answer:
Samuel Slater, a skilled British mechanic, is credited with starting the Industrial Revolution in America by establishing the first successful water-powered cotton mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in the 1790s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual credited with starting the Industrial Revolution in America is Samuel Slater. A skilled British mechanic, Samuel Slater memorized the design of textile machines while working in a factory owned by Richard Arkwright. His knowledge of advanced textile manufacturing played a pivotal role in transforming the American industry. In the 1790s, Slater established the nation's first successful water-powered cotton mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. With the financial support of Moses Brown, he replicated the British developments in textile production, which significantly spurred economic growth in the United States.
It is important to note that while other notable figures such as Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell made significant contributions with inventions like the electric light bulb and the telephone, these advancements came later in the Industrial Revolution. Likewise, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which also had a profound effect on industrialization, particularly in the cotton industry.