Who Were the Luddites?

The Luddites were a group of people well known for staying away from technology. Today Luddite refers to someone who is not very good at using technology or struggles with it.  In reality that is not actually true, the Luddites were a group of people during the Industrial revolution who refrained from using large mechanical weaving machines in an effort to keep the cloth pure. They wanted the craft of weaving be purely an act of skill not just operating a machine.  The Luddites were opposed to using mechanical looms because they wanted to make high quality craftsmen ship and they were afraid the machines would put them out of business.  Some Luddites were even known to have destroyed weaving equipment with sledge hammers. Which sparked the legend that Luddites were known for it.



Dear Cousin Mo,
You may or may not know this but as a skilled weaver, I am actually becoming worried that all this new weaving technology may put me and others like me out of business.  The new machines are very efficient and have been sweeping the nation. People are now able to get more cloth in less time for less money than ever before. I have Heard about a group of people who have started to call themselves the Luddites these people are just like me! Worried by industrialization these skilled craftsmen are frightened that hey will go out of business and are protesting new weaving machines. Some have even been said to have destroyed weaving factories with sledge hammers.  While I am not as violent as some of the protesters have been, I still stand up for their cause which is why I have decided to call myself a Luddite and protest the new mills being made
Much Love,
Elanor