Luddites

Luddites was a name given to a loose association of English textile workers and artisans in the early 19th century who protested against the introduction of mechanized weaving and other new technologies that they believed harmed their livelihoods. The movement takes its name from the possibly legendary figure Ned Ludd, though it was used to describe many different groups with similar grievances across parts of England.

From about 1811 to 1812, Luddites conducted machine-breaking raids, targeting power looms, knitting frames, and other advanced equipment in mills and workshops, especially in Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. They believed that mechanization reduced wages, increased unemployment, and degraded working conditions. The actions were often carried out at night and could be violent, though not all participants supported destruction; some aimed to pressure employers and the government.

The response from authorities was severe. The government passed the Frame-Breaking Act in 1812, making the breaking of machines a capital offense in practice, and deployed troops to suppress disturbances. Dozens of participants were tried, with some executed and others transported to penal colonies in Australia. By the mid-1810s the movement had largely faded, though small outbreaks occurred later in some regions.

Today, the term Luddites is frequently used to describe opposition to or fear of new technologies, though historians emphasize that the original movement was rooted in labor concerns and economic disruption rather than a blanket rejection of technology. The Luddites remain a reference point in debates about automation, industrial change, and workers’ rights.