It was tech related to water powered cotton mills. In those times England had outlawed the exportation or manufacturing machinery as well as the emigration of persons with industry knowledge.

Sam Slater moved to the US in 1789 and partnered with a textile manufacturer to recreate the technology from memory. (Amusingly what he did may not have even been a violation of IP law by today's standards)

https://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/07/05/americas-industrial-re...