I came across an interesting article today which draw parallels between the rise of the 19th century American economic juggernaut and China in the modern day (https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/12/06/we-were-pirates-too/amp/)
The article focuses primarily on the finished cotton textiles industry, claiming that propionate to GDP, the British industry was “three times the size of the entire U.S. automobile sector today.”
It also tells the tale of intellectual property thieves Francis Cabot Lowell and Samuel Slater.
What was the reaction amongst both the American and British public to these stories / tactics?
Follow-up questions, how did the American government justify their actions and why did Parliament not take offensive steps (economic or military) against the US because of the theft?
Not to discourage other replies but you may be interested in comments on this earlier post about American capitalism and intellectual property rights in the 19th century, including comments by u/Bacarruda, u/Bodark43 and myself, which touches on similar matters to your question.