RAFT

The Luddites were skilled weavers, mechanics, and artisans. The Luddites attacked machines and factories in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution in England. They attacked the machines as a way of protesting the ‘fraudulent’ use of technology. They believed that factories were using machines in a deceitful way. The machines were taking business away workers who had had an apprenticeship and were skilled at their trade. Luddites were not violent. In fact more violence was inflicted upon them than they ever caused. Some of the original Luddites were cross dressers to call attention to their cause. The letter that follows is a mock primary source letter from a skilled weaver to her cousin in America.   

April 10th 1812

Dear Jenna,

I hope all is well with you and your family. A great revolution is happening here. Has news of the Luddites reached America yet? I’ll tell you anyway, and I’ll tell you what’s really happening from my point of view as a skilled weaver (if I do say so myself). The Luddites follow their leader Ned Ludd, who actually doesn’t even exist. The story I know of Ned contains a young apprentice named Ludd or Ludham who was working at a stocking frame when a overseer yelled at him for knitting too loosely. Ned grew enraged, grabbed a hammer and flattened the entire mechanism. Ned Ludd turned  into the Luddites symbolic leader. I do consider myself a Luddite. I agree that skilled workers that can create quality goods should be getting a pair pay, not factories that manufacture cheap goods in large quantities. Luddites are not violent, they simply destroy machines in an act of protest. Unlike the soldiers the government is sending after them. Just the other day the owner of a mill near Manchester ordered troops to fire into a crowd of Luddites, killing 3 and wounding 18. I have decided to attend a Luddite meeting tomorrow. It is not fair that unskilled workers working at machines should be able to take my business. Who is going to want to pay for the more expensive clothes that I make when they can buy cheaper ones from the mill? Write soon.