Sounds like they are following after American heros:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Slater

    Samuel Slater (June 9, 1768 – April 21, 1835) was an 
    early English-American industrialist known as the 
    "Father of the American Industrial Revolution" (a phrase
    coined by Andrew Jackson) and the "Father of the
    American Factory System."

    In the UK, he was called "Slater the Traitor" because he
    brought British textile technology to America, modifying 
    it for United States use. He memorized the designs of
    textile factory machinery as an apprentice to a pioneer
    in the British industry before migrating to the United
    States at the age of 21.