How did Francis Cabot Lowell influence the growth of the economy in the North? He invented inexpensive machines that allowed people to spin cloth in their homes, helping to keep cotton production a small-scale business. He discovered a way to turn cotton fibers into yarn, which increased the demand for cotton. He created a system in which textiles were manufactured entirely within one factory, speeding up production. He replaced workers with machines in the factories, forcing people to look for new jobs in the country.