What Is A Luddite

Question 1

Luddite

Answer 1

One who opposes the introduction of new technology
Member of an organized band of English mechanics who set themselves to destroy manufacturing machinery
Today used as a derogatory term

Question 2

What were the luddites opposed?

Answer 2

To the unfairness that the new technology had created
They wanted better prices and better working conditions
Less power to the merchants and more to the worker class

Question 3

Artisanal pride

Answer 3

Whole family worked together in houses to make cloth
Wool was a huge industry
Craftsman

Question 4

Factors affecting the artisanal class

Answer 4

French Revolution ~ jacobins supported revolution, seditious meetings act (less then 50 people)
Population explosion ~ population doubled in 50 yrs inflation but wages decreased due to war
Exclosure ~ land held common was privatized (enclosure acts) to improve land yields
Poor laws ~ less common land meant more poor forced to seek public relief, choose lower wage or workhouse
Economic theories ~ cap (wealth is sum of goods and services, mer (wealth is amount of currency it holds)
Factory system ~ new technology needed buildings and workers brought to it
Steam engine ~ increased water pressure which increased power

Question 5

Confluence of forces

Answer 5

Manufacturers ~ more money, no link to community, low wages
Artisans had a hard time pushing back against the prices seditious meetings act
Women and children were employed
Tried to get parliament to enforce statues on pricing and wages but manufacturers had more power

Question 6

Luddite crisis

Answer 6

New cropping frames tech
Nov 1811 ~ destroyed cropping frames of the manufacturers who were putting artisans against each other (general Ludd invented character)
Feb 1812 ~ this had some success wages rose and better prices but troops came and bill proposed for machine breaking as capital offence
May 1812 ~ spun out of control and became generally violent, sympathy for the movement was lost and it was finished

Question 7

After Luddite

Answer 7

Over 50 years of increased poverty

Eventually better conditions for workers

Question 8

Problem

Answer 8

Very long standing

A lines with the idea of new technology together potentially getting rid of workers and jobs (robots)

Is disruptive technologies a solid win for consumers and citizens