How accurate is it to say that Luddism in the year 1811-17 was remarkably similar to the Swing Riots that took place in the years 1830-31? (2018) Flashcards
What are the 4 factors we’re comparing in this essay?
Causes
Methods
Responses
Successes
ST Luddism: When was the closure of the American Market? What happened?
1811.
Led to £11 million exports in 1810 dropping to £2 million by 1831.
Caused conflict between US and UK over British violation of US Maritime rights, 1812 war began.
Led to economic repercussions- rapid unemployment growth, wage cuts.
What was the long term causes of Luddism?
Increased use of unskilled labour, Napoleon’s (British) blockage between 1806-1814, and the introduction of frame rents.
How did the introduction of frame rents harm workers, increasing luddism?
Frame rents were a way of suppressing wages.
Those without a frame, were outcompeted by those with.
Had to pay a business to get a frame… low wages!!
What was the short term cause of the Swing Riots?
In 1830, there were 2 consecutive poor harvests.
Hunger politics!
What was the long term cause of Swing Riots?
Threshing machines reduced winter employment… did the work of 15 men!
Overall comparison of the causes for luddism and swing riots?
Luddite riots were caused by both internal British factors with the machine introduction, and the effect of foreign attitudes with war.
Both were influenced to an extent by wage depression from machinery.
How long did luddism last?
6 years (1811-17).
What did luddites do to Nottingham employers?
Sent threatening letters.
In 3 weeks, how many stocking frames did luddites destroy?
200
When and how many frames were destroyed in Nottingham? How much damage?
February 1812.
1,000 frames destroyed.
Up to £10k damage.
How long did Swing Riots last?
2 years.
How much £ damage did Swing Riots result in?
£600 by riots.
£100k arson damage.
What did the threatening letters from the Swing Riots say to landowners?
They would break machines or set fire to hayricks if they refused.
Why did the Swing Riots kill livestock?
To send a point to employers/landowners.
Overall, what were the similarities of methods used by luddism and Swing Riots?
Both sent threatening letters to place pressure.
Both caused varying degrees of economic damage.
Both involved high violence levels.
Overall, what were the differences of methods used by luddism and Swing Riots?
Luddites resulted in murder, but Swing Riots refrained from this.
When and what did Spencer Perceval do as a response to Luddism?
February 1812.
Proposed machine breaking to be made a capital offence and increased charges for Luddite behavior- to try to discourage it.
1817- frame breaking made punishable my death!
In Luddism response, in Lancashire, how many men were killed/transported in 1812?
18 killed, 13 transported.
In response, how many troops were sent to Luddite active areas?
12,000
In response to the Swing Riots, how many were sentenced to death/transported?
252 sentenced to death, 505 transported.
Why did Swing Riots cause more fear?
In the south, in constituencies of most MPs, closer to London.
Not ignorable… likely affected Parliament!
Overall, what were the differences in responses to luddism and Swing Riots?
SR results in much higher death/transportation level.
Luddism was responded by making machine breaking punishable by death.
SR likely more effective in making change in Parliament… efforts and geography.
What was a success of Luddism?
Provoked a large response!
What were the failures of Luddism?
No central organising force for riots, made easier for government to stop.
Army of spies and troops used to contain them.
Movement was defeated.
What were the successes of the Swing Riots?
Represented one of the last radical movements.
Long term impact: could have influence over parliament legislation including 1833 Factory Act and Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.
What were the failures of the Swing Riots?
Met with harsh legal response.
Short term failed.
What were the similarities in the successes/failures of luddism and the Swing Riots?
Both short term failures.
What were the differences in the successes/failures of luddism and the Swing Riots?
SR longer term impacts more positive in enacting change.
