Textiles mills in Massachusetts played a pivotal role in the industrialization of the United States the United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a transcontinental country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territories, 326 Indian reservations, and nine minor outlying islands. https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › United_States United States - Wikipedia . Textile mills were the first manufacturers to use modern production methods during the Industrial Revolution and thus textiles became the dominant industry during this time period.