Final answer:
Moses Brown's involvement in renting a textile mill in Rhode Island contributed to the birth and expansion of the American textile industry, setting the foundation for a more self-sufficient American economy in fabric production.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Moses Brown rented a textile mill in Rhode Island, it marked a significant early step in the establishment of the American textile industry. Initially, Samuel Slater, with financial backing from Moses Brown, created the first successful American cotton mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, which used water power to spin cotton into thread.
This set the stage for further industrialization in New England. As a result of the Embargo Act imposed by President Jefferson and protective tariffs lobbied for by Francis Cabot Lowell, along with the competition and cultural changes in the region, the textile industry flourished.
New England quickly became dotted with mills, such as those from the Boston Manufacturing Company, which produced fabrics more efficiently and provided a new market for domestically produced cotton.