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America was the source for most of the cotton processed in the Lancashire mills. In 1851 America, industrialising rapidly, was already beginning to overtake Britain as the greatest manufacturing power in the world. The British at first feared that American exhibits would swamp the Exhibition but Americans were not enthusiastic about it and their contribution was less impressive than expected.

Their most popular exhibit was Hiram Powers' sculpture of 'The Greek Slave', a nude female figure which aroused some controversy. Small scale versions of it were made for parlour decoration.