What exactly are luddites? Well, nowadays people use this word to describe people who don’t use technology but that’s not exactly what it means. Luddites are skilled weavers, mechanics, and other artisans who were followers of a mythical figure ‘Ned Ludd’ that attacked machines and factories in early industrialization. Luddites destroyed machines and factories because their jobs were being replaced by technology and they were left with no source of income without jobs. To portray what life was like during the time of the luddite revolts, I wrote a mock primary source letter from the perspective of a young girl, who is around fourteen years old, who recently started working in a factory. The girls name is Anna and she is writing to her cousin Lucy who lives in America.
This image shows two luddites in a textile mill destroying machinery in 1812.
Dear Lucy,
I know I haven’t talked to you in about a month but I started working! I have a job at a cotton mill in Yorkshire and I’m very excited about it. Father says I will be great help to the family because I can help pay the mortgage. When I first got here about a month ago all of the workers gave me a warm welcome and taught me everything I needed to know very quickly. Everyone was exceedingly nice to me and their peers. I enjoyed working but now things have changed and no one is acting friendly with each other anymore. All of the mill workers are stressed out because they think they are going to lose their jobs. No one even talks anymore because they are too busy praying and worrying about having no position at the mills. This is all because of a group of people called Luddites. These people are evil and are trying to ruin us factory workers’ lives! At night when we are all in the boarding house sleeping, the luddites break into the mills (not exactly sure how) and they demolish all of our machines. The more machines we lose to the luddites, the less people will be able to work and thats exactly what the luddites want. They want no more technology and machinery to do work, they want to end the factory business because they believe technology and machinery are taking over their jobs to leave them with nothing. Eventually, we will all lose our jobs in the mills. These people make me so angry, Lucy! The industrialization finally gave me the opportunity for a real job and the chance to finally do something to help my family. This job makes me feel important; I can’t let the luddites take it away from me. The good thing is that me and my friends here won’t lose our jobs without a fight. We have started to make signs to protest and we even convinced the mill owner to reinforce the security system at the factories. Anyway, I have to go to sleep now and prepare to wake up in a few hours for work but I will let you know how all of this plays out. I miss you and please tell Auntie and Uncle I miss them as well.
With love,
Anna
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