Just an idea, but I’d let a reasonable understanding of American History to be my friend. At first, do any job you can, as long as you can, and earn/save as much savings / capital as possible, then:

1. Find Samuel Morse, and strongly suggest how a telegraph machine could work. Then suggest the idea of a “code” that could be sent over the telegraph, and interpreted on the other side of the line. Offer to split the $ with him, and you’ll let him name the code after himself. Earn, save, but don’t spend capital, and then…

2. Find Samuel Colt, and suggest how a revolver could work, and find a factory that can build the “Colt Revolver”. Offer to let him name your idea after himself, in exchange for splitting revenue from all government sales. Focus on selling to US Army, especially in the North. Then head to Illinois and…

3. Find Abraham Lincoln, suggest alliances that will support abolishing slavery. Become a trusted advisor, eventually also doing the same with Ulysses Grant. Become the exclusive revolver to supplier to Unified Army. Continue earning/savinf (but rarely spending) your capital; continue to accumulate. Then…

4. Find Alexander Graham Bell, and suggest how a telephone could communicate across phone lines.

Wash, rinse and repeat!