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What did the Luddites believe and act on?
The original Luddites were British weavers and textile workers who objected to the increased use of mechanized looms and knitting frames. Most were trained artisans who had spent years learning their craft, and they feared that unskilled machine operators were robbing them of their livelihood.
What was the meaning of Luddites?
Luddite \LUH-dyte\ noun. : one of a group of early 19th-century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest; broadly : one who is opposed to especially technological change.
What did the Luddites protest against?
The Original Luddites Raged Against the Machine of the Industrial Revolution. Uprisings against a new economic structure imposed by the Industrial Revolution gave rise to the insult “luddite.”
What did the Luddites campaign for?
The Luddites were textile artisans who protested against newly developed labour-saving machinery by destroying it from 1811 to 1817. The Luddites were not against new machinery as such, but saw the threat of smashing it up as the last desperate means of improving their bargaining position with their employers.
What was the main purpose of canals during the Industrial Revolution?
Canals allowed for the greater exploitation of coal reserves as the coal could be moved further, and sold cheaper, allowing a new market to form. Industries could now relocate to coalfields or move to towns, and the materials and products could be moved either way.
What happened to the Luddites?
At the behest of factory owners, the British Parliament declared machine breaking a capital offense and sent 14,000 troops to the English countryside to put down the uprising. Dozens of Luddites were executed or exiled to Australia.
What did canals do?
A canal is a human-made waterway that allows boats and ships to pass from one body of water to another. Canals are also used to transport water for irrigation and other human uses.