During
a short time during the early industrial revolution, a protesting group called
the Luddites emerged. These men were
skilled artisans, mechanics, and weavers who attacked factories and the
machines inside. They were not against
technology nor did they not understand it, but they were angry about how it was
being used and how people were being treated because of it. They were angry because workers in factories
were being paid so little. Luddites
mainly just wanted fairer wages. To
protest they would often cross-dress (dress like women) and sneak into
factories at night to destroy machines.
Sometimes they would set fire to factory buildings. Many people who also wanted fairer wages
sided with the Luddites, but others including the soldier who wrote the letter
below, thought the revolution was great and were against the Luddites.
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| Luddites Wanted Poster |
Dear John,
I
have unfortunately been sent to the dangerous city where the horrible protests
and fires are taking place. These despicable
people, who call themselves the “Luddites”, are wreaking havoc on not only the
city but innocent people. One man was
killed over all this nonsense. And it is
all due to the fact that some people do not like the new and efficient machines! It is absolutely ridiculous. And they have undeservedly attracted so much
attention to themselves. They often
cross-dress when they destroy the expensive machines in the factories and they
follow some sort of crazy leader or something called “King Ludd”. These people were workers in the factories,
but something has come over them and they now seem to hate the new
technology. They sneak into factories at
night to destroy all the wonderful machines.
These people are costing a lot of money for the factories. Now I, along with other soldiers, am trying
to protect the factories from any further destruction by these insane people.
I
personally feel that the new technology is greatly improving people’s lives. Goods like clothes are being made faster than
ever. There is an abundance of goods
being produced and the work required is far less than it used to be. Transportation has also improved. There are railroads and steam locomotives as
well as canals and steamboats to take the different goods to many different and
distant places. Why would anyone protest
against that? It makes no sense. Besides, I have no tolerance for lawbreakers
and troublemakers, and eventually the government will punish them for what they
have done.
I want to do something to stop these people, but I am
afraid. I am doing my job to protect the
factories, but I am scared to do more.
They seem very dangerous. I do
not want to get killed trying to seriously fight back against them. I have seen what they have done and what they
are capable of. I believe they could
cause even more damage if they wished.
I
hope that this amazing technology will come to you in America, and that people in
America will not react like they have here.
Hopefully you will find people who appreciate what it does for
them. I will write again soon.
Sincerely,
George
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