Luddites
The Luddites were people who believed that machinery replacing humans wouldn’t work and that it shouldn’t happen. The introduction and spread of the new textile technology reduced wages and standards of living. Initially the workers had sought government regulation of the technology; but when it became clear that the government favoured non-intervention, groups of organised workers began to destroy the machines. In early 1811, General Ned Ludd and the Army of Redressers gave the first threatening letters to employers in Nottingham. Due to workers being distraught by the wage reductions and the use of unapprenticed workmen, they began to break into factories at night to destroy the new machines that the employers were using. Over the course of three weeks over two hundred stocking frames were destroyed. During March, 1811, there were many attacks that took place every night, thus resulting in Nottingham authorities enrolling four hundred special constables to protect the factories. There were even offerings of money (£50) to people who helped catch the criminals “wickedly breaking the frames”. This highlights the extent that the officials would go to in order to stop the criminals. This shows the reform being made and the government reaction towards the Luddites.
Luddism grew and spread around Britain. It reached Yorkshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. In Yorkshire, a small and highly skilled group of cloth finishers realised that the new shearing frame could be the cause of them losing their jobs. Out of anger, in February and March 1812, factories were attacked by Luddites in Huddersfield, Halifax, Leeds and Wakefield. The effect of this was not reform, but new laws formed against luddism. Machine-breaking became a capital offence. Lord Byron in the House of Lords strongly opposed the Frame Breaking Act but his passionate speech wasn’t enough. People like Lord Byron strongly influenced reform because they had confidence, leadership and resilience which ultimately changed laws in the long run. The government ordered 12,000 troops into the areas were the Luddites were active. One of the most substantial Luddite attacks occurred in 1811 at Rawfolds Mill near Brighouse in Yorkshire. William Cartwright, the owner of the mill, had been using cloth-finishing machinery since 1811. Due to the fact that local croppers were beginning to lose their jobs, they united and had a meeting. Their motive was to destroy the cloth-finishing machinery at Rawfords Mill. William Cartwright suspected trouble and arranged for guards to protect the mill. Led by George Mellor, a young cropper from Huddersfield, the attack on Rawfolds Mill took place on 11th April, 1812. The Luddites failed to gain entry and by the time they left, two of the croppers had been mortally wounded. Fourteen were hung for the attack on Rawfolds Mill. They gained more speculation and attention which was what they wanted. Although there wasn't much benefit it helped reform because stricter rules were implemented in order to stop protests and there was some effort to create more jobs. However, the Luddites were unable to stop technology from developing, as it provided a great benefit to society. They were successful in gaining attention towards their objectives. They struggled because they weren't able to damage factories without the thought of death looming in their mind as they were sacrificing their lives.
The price of wheat drastically rose in 1812. Workers became desperate as they weren’t able to feed their families. There were food riots in Manchester, Oldham, Ashton, Rochdale, Stockport and Macclesfield. The military arrived and another seven men were killed. By 1817 the Luddite movement had stopped being active in Britain.
Luddism grew and spread around Britain. It reached Yorkshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. In Yorkshire, a small and highly skilled group of cloth finishers realised that the new shearing frame could be the cause of them losing their jobs. Out of anger, in February and March 1812, factories were attacked by Luddites in Huddersfield, Halifax, Leeds and Wakefield. The effect of this was not reform, but new laws formed against luddism. Machine-breaking became a capital offence. Lord Byron in the House of Lords strongly opposed the Frame Breaking Act but his passionate speech wasn’t enough. People like Lord Byron strongly influenced reform because they had confidence, leadership and resilience which ultimately changed laws in the long run. The government ordered 12,000 troops into the areas were the Luddites were active. One of the most substantial Luddite attacks occurred in 1811 at Rawfolds Mill near Brighouse in Yorkshire. William Cartwright, the owner of the mill, had been using cloth-finishing machinery since 1811. Due to the fact that local croppers were beginning to lose their jobs, they united and had a meeting. Their motive was to destroy the cloth-finishing machinery at Rawfords Mill. William Cartwright suspected trouble and arranged for guards to protect the mill. Led by George Mellor, a young cropper from Huddersfield, the attack on Rawfolds Mill took place on 11th April, 1812. The Luddites failed to gain entry and by the time they left, two of the croppers had been mortally wounded. Fourteen were hung for the attack on Rawfolds Mill. They gained more speculation and attention which was what they wanted. Although there wasn't much benefit it helped reform because stricter rules were implemented in order to stop protests and there was some effort to create more jobs. However, the Luddites were unable to stop technology from developing, as it provided a great benefit to society. They were successful in gaining attention towards their objectives. They struggled because they weren't able to damage factories without the thought of death looming in their mind as they were sacrificing their lives.
The price of wheat drastically rose in 1812. Workers became desperate as they weren’t able to feed their families. There were food riots in Manchester, Oldham, Ashton, Rochdale, Stockport and Macclesfield. The military arrived and another seven men were killed. By 1817 the Luddite movement had stopped being active in Britain.