The Luddites and the Industrial Revolution

Napoleonic Wars

Period: Jan 1, 1803 to Jan 1, 1815

Caused economic upheavel and widespread unemployment across British working families

Nottingham Protesters

Mar 11, 1811

• smashed textile machinery
• 60+ large stocking frames had been destroyed

Ned Ludd

Nov 1, 1811

fictious leader of the luddites

Parliament responds

Dec 1, 1811

Frame Breaking Act 1812-machine breaking as a capital offense

Protesters in Yorkshire

Apr 7, 1812

• 150 protesters
• 2 luddites killed

Protesters in Manchester

Apr 27, 1812

• 8 killed -18 wounded