So prosperous was the whaling industry that. by mid19th century. it had made New Bedford the wealthiest city. per capita. in the world. . New Bedfords whaling history raises many social and economic theme that are essential to a full understanding of our American heritage. Among these are the spirit of technological progress. the entrepreneurial drive that motivated daring men and women to risk their lives and fortunes on the seas. and the many cultures that took root here. brought by immigrants drawn from every corner of the globe. It was this diversity which contributed to New Bedfords position as a center of the Abolitionist Movement and made it a key stop for fugitive sales on the underground railroad. Frederick Douglass spent his first 3 years of freedom in New Bedford. working as a calker on the hulls of whaleboats.
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immigrants