The Luddites Are Causing Trouble

This is a mock primary source letter about the opposition of the Luddites written by a skilled weaver living in Britain addressed to their cousin in America.

Dear Cousin,
     How have things been over in the United States? Over here in Britain, there has been a new uprising of a group of people called the Luddites. The Luddites are people who oppose technological progress, and they have been causing problems lately here. There have been some stories going around about how they have been destroying machines in factories to protest the unfair pay and the unappreciative treatment they have been getting and also to show that they are against the methods in which technology is used. It is said that the government is feeling pretty threatened by these actions because they don’t want the movement to spread too far, but they don’t know much about how to stop it. Society has been on the verge of creating new technology for a long time, and now that we are finally in that period of growth, there are these people who are trying to prevent it by violently protesting. The reason behind their protests is that they thought technology was incorrect. They believed that industrialization was going to hurt society because of all of the new ideas and new equipment being made to help people to work in the factories. I personally believe that the Luddites are unjustifiably against technological uprising because it is becoming such a helpful part of people’s lives, and there’s no one way to completely get rid of it.

     Being a skilled weaver, and being in the position I am in working in the factories, I think that the Luddites beliefs are wrong. Technology is a huge part of the work we do in the factories, and it is helping to make things get done more efficiently and easily. I am in large favor of the uprising of technology these days, and the fact that the Luddites are imposing these negative views is not making the factory owners too happy. I am personally fine with how I have been treated in these mills, and I am glad that the new technology has been able to help me with my work load. Industrialization had a huge effect on me because I was able to go and work and make money for myself and live a life of independence. The Luddites are wrong for their destructive behaviors. I think they should stop what they’re doing and embrace the fact that technology is not going away, it’s only getting more widespread.

Sincerely, Rachel