Explain the role that machines played in making factories successful in the U.S. during the industrial revolution.

Machines played two major roles in making factories
successful during the Industrial Revolution.

First, they
allowed factories to produce much larger quantities of th products than could previously
be done.  This allowed companies to enjoy what are called economies of scale -- where it
gets cheaper to make something as you make more of them.  This helped allow the
companies to sell their products for lower prices.

Second,
the machines were much more efficient than working without machines.  This meant, again,
that factories could produce goods much more cheaply than non-mechanized processes
could.  This also allowed these companies to sell their products for lower
prices.

Lower prices, of course, allowed many more people
to buy the products and that allowed the companies that had factories to be
successful.