Intro
In this episode of “The History of Rome” podcast, titled “552- Blood in the Machine,” host Brian Merchant explores the story of the Luddites, a powerful organization of English textile workers in the 19th century who rose up against the growing trend of automation and machines that threatened their livelihoods. Merchant’s book, “Blood in the Machine,” provides a detailed account of the Luddites’ rebellion and sheds light on their concerns about technology’s impact on their jobs and lives.
Main Takeaways
The Luddite Movement and Technology’s Impact on Livelihoods
- The term “Luddite” is often used to describe people who are technophobic, but in reality, they were a powerful organization with valid concerns about technology’s impact on their livelihoods.
- Brian Merchant’s book, “Blood in the Machine,” explores how English textile workers in the 19th century rose up against the growing trend of automation and machines that were threatening their jobs.
- The story of the Luddites is complex and nuanced, and there are still lessons to be learned from their struggles against technology’s exploitation.
The Rise of Automation and the Impact on Textile Workers
- Textile work before automated machines was often good, middle-class work that allowed for flexible hours and family involvement.
- The power loom was a significant machine in the textile industry that automated the weaving process, leading to the potential loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
- The rise of technological innovations and automation in the textile industry caused alarm among cloth workers, who feared for their autonomy and dignity.
- Automation led to the rise of child labor in dangerous and brutal conditions.
- The middle class saw rising discontent about automation and its impact on the most vulnerable.
The Luddite Movement and Resistance to Exploitation
- The Luddite movement began in response to the ban on workers organizing or forming unions and the authoritarian response to calls for reform and better conditions.
- In the 1800s, workers in Britain were not allowed to organize or form unions, making it difficult for them to deal with the sudden introduction of automation in factories.
- Workers formed a trade organization and went to parliament to appeal to the government for regulations to protect their trade, but they were denied.
- The lack of regulations allowed entrepreneurs to introduce automated machinery without any restrictions, causing a crisis point for workers.
- The Luddite movement began in 1811 when cloth workers organized a rebellion against factory owners and destroyed machines in the same way that mythical figure Ned Ludd did.
- The Luddites were organized and specific in their campaign, only targeting machines that were used for automation and not those that had been used for hundreds of years.
The Government’s Response and the Decline of the Luddites
- The government’s response to the Luddites was increasingly punitive, with troops and eventually death penalties for breaking machines.
- The movement continued to escalate until it came to a head with widespread machine raids.
- The Luddites attacked a major factory in the West Riding, resulting in their first major defeat.
- The attack showed factory owners that the Luddites could be crushed by force.
- After the defeat, George Meller and his colleagues assassinated another major factory owner, leading to a decline in public sentiment for the Luddites.
- The Luddites lost, and their movement died out by the end of the decade, with their leaders put to death for their role in the assassination.
Legacy and Relevance of the Luddite Movement
- The defeat of the Luddites meant that the factory owners won, and the mode of production became ascendant, leading to the Industrial Revolution and technology becoming synonymous with progress.
- The term “Luddite” was taken over by capitalists and industrialists to mean anti-progress and anti-technology.
- The Luddite movement still echoes today, and there may be new threads of Luddism being woven in reaction to developments in automation.
- Workers today have the ability to organize their workplaces and confront AI or automation if it’s being used in ways that can cause harm.
- The Luddites were proposing solutions that today look like a robot tax that would be proposed by someone like Andrew Yang or Michael Bloomberg.
- Tech titans and entrepreneurs have used the idea of technology to get around regulations, similar to how Uber and Lyft use the claim of being a technology company to avoid playing by municipal tax decode rules.
- The Luddites were fighting against the exploitation of workers by technology and saw the need to tax technology that replaces human labor to fund worker programs.
- The term “Luddite” should be reclaimed and used in the proper way to continue the fight against the exploitation of workers by technology.
- Brian Merchant’s book, “Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech,” provides a detailed account of the Luddites’ rebellion and is a great resource for those interested in learning more.
Summary
The Luddites: A Rebellion Against Automation and Exploitation
The Luddites were English textile workers in the 19th century who rose up against the growing trend of automation and machines that threatened their jobs and way of life. The rise of automation in the textile industry caused alarm among cloth workers, who feared for their autonomy and dignity. The Luddite movement began as a response to the ban on workers organizing and the lack of regulations to protect their trade. The Luddites targeted machines used for automation and launched widespread machine raids. However, the government’s response was increasingly punitive, and the Luddites eventually suffered defeat. The legacy of the Luddite movement still resonates today, as workers continue to confront the impact of automation and technology on their livelihoods.
Conclusion
The story of the Luddites serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle between workers and technology. The Luddites’ concerns about automation and exploitation are still relevant today, as workers navigate the challenges posed by AI and automation. It is crucial to reclaim the term “Luddite” and use it in the proper context to continue the fight against the exploitation of workers by technology. Brian Merchant’s book, “Blood in the Machine,” provides a comprehensive account of the Luddites’ rebellion and offers valuable insights into their struggle against the impact of technology on their lives.
