Luddites

Question 1

Who?

Answer 1

• The Luddites were a group of English textile workers in the early 19th century.
• They protested against the use of new machinery that threatened their jobs and traditional skills.
• The government responded with force and many Luddites were arrested or executed.
• The Luddites have been seen as a symbol of resistance against technological change and industrialization.

Question 2

What?

Answer 2

• The Luddites smashed machines and destroyed factories in acts of violence.
• They also attacked and threatened factory owners and other perceived enemies.
• Their actions were seen as criminal and caused significant property damage.

Question 3

When?

Answer 3

• The Luddites were most prevalent in the early 19th century in England, specifically from 1811 to 1817.
• The Luddites were eventually suppressed by the government and their movement faded away by the
  1820s.

Question 4

Where?

Answer 4

• Their protests and acts of violence were primarily focused in the textile industries of the Midlands and the
  North of England.

Question 5

Why?

Answer 5

• The movement was largely made up of skilled artisans and craftsmen who felt threatened by the new
  machinery that was replacing their traditional skills.
• They believed that the machines would make them obsolete and leave them without work.
• They saw themselves as defending their livelihoods and families from economic hardship and poverty.
• The Luddites also had grievances with factory owners and the government, whom they felt were exploiting
  them and not addressing their concerns.
• Their acts of violence were a form of direct action against these perceived threats.