Luddite movement was a social movement against Industrial Revolution. It began in 1811 in Nottingham, Britain. The British textile artisans began to protest against changes produced by the revolution. Highly skilled workers at that time began to feel threatened by the new machines the employers started to use. Employers hired low skilled workers and paid them less than the high skilled workers and still managed to produce the amount the market demanded. So the artisans destroyed the machines in the factories as a way to complain. The harsh economy at that time caused by the Napoleonic Wars contributed in stimulating the movement. The workers’ complaints grew over poor working conditions. The movement became very serious that the artisans that had participated in the movement collided with the British Army. Nonetheless, the movement quickly spread to Yorkshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. Realizing how serious this was, the Parliament passed the Frame Breaking Act so if people were caught breaking the machines, they were to be sentenced to death.
P.S Here is a link to a video clip that explains Luddite movement !
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