Struggling in the depression caused by bad harvests and the Napoleonic Wars, and concerned about the loss of jobs due to mechanization in the textile industry, towards the end of 1811 workers and craftmen founded the Luddite movement to oppose the factory system by destroying power looms and other means of factory production. Machine-breaking had been criminalized in England as early as 1721, the penalty being penal transportation. As a result of continued opposition to mechanization, the Frame Breaking Act 1812 made destruction of means of production, such as power looms and steam engines, but also a wide range of other equipment, subject to the death penalty.
"Towards the close of the year 1811, a spirit of riot and insubordination manifested itself in the country of Nottingham, which, in the course of that year, extended to the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, and in some degree, pervaded all the manufacturing districts of England. The insurgents, who assumed the name of 'LUDDITES,' probably with a view of inspiring their adherents with confidence, the malcontents gave out that they were under the command of one leader, whom they designated by the factitious name of Ned Ludd, or General Ludd, calling themselves Ludds, Ludders, or Luddites. There is no reason, however to believe that there was in truth any one leader. In each district where the disaffection prevailed, the most aspiring man assumed the local superiority, and became the General Ludd of his own district.
"The avowed and immediate object of the Luddites was the destruction of certain articles of machinery, the use of which had superseded or diminished manual labour, in the manufacture of the articles to which they were applied. These disturbances, which had now attracted the attention of parliament, and excited apprehensions of the most alarming nature, first manifested themselves by the destruction of a great number of newly-erected stocking-frames, by small parties of men, principally stocking-weavers, who assembled in various places round the town of Nottingham. The men engaged in the disturbances were at first principally those thrown out of employment by the use of the new machinery, or by their refusal to work at the rate of wages offered by the manufacturers, and they particularly sought the destruction of frames owned those hosiers, or worked by those men who were willing to work at the lower rates. In consequence of the resistance opposed to the outrages of the rioters, in the course of which one of their number was shot, on the 11th of November, at Bullwell, magistrates found it necessary to call in the assistance of a considerable armed force, which was promptly assembled, consisting, at first, principally of local militia and volunteer yeomanry, to whom were added about four hundred special constables. The terror of this force seemed for a time to allay the spirit of insurbordination; but before the end of the month of November, the outrages were renewed, and assumed a more serious systematic character. In several villages, the rioters not only destroyed the frames, but they levied contributions for subsistence, which rapidly increased their number, and enlarged their sphere of action.
"A considerable regular military force was now went to Nottingham, and in January 1812, two of the most experienced police magistrates were dispatatched from London to that place for the purpose of assisting the local authorities in their endeavours to restore tranquillity in the disturbed districts. The systematic combination with which the outrages were conducted, the terror which they inspired, and the disposition of many of the lower orders to favour, rather than to oppose them, made it very difficult to discover the offenders, or to obtain evidence to convict those who were apprehended. Some, however, were afterwards proceeded against at the spring assizes of 1812, at Nottingham, and seven persons, convicted of different offences connected with the riots, were sentenced to transportation. In the meantime, acts were passed by the legistature for establishing a police in the disturbed districts, upon the ancient system of watch and war, and for making the destruction of stocking-frames a capital crime, punishable by death.
"Early in the year, the spirit of riot and distrubance spread itself into Cheshire and Lancashire; at Tentwistle, in the former county, the cotton machinery in Mr. Rhodes's mill was totally destroyed; and at Stockport, the house of Mr. Goodwin was set on fire on the 14th of April, and his steam-looms destroyed. On the 20th of the same month, the manufactory of Messrs. Daniel Burton and Sons, situated at Middleton, six miles from Manchester, was attached by a mob, consisting of several thousand persons, and although the rioters were repulsed, and four of their number killed by the military force assembled to protect the works, a second attack was made on the following day, when Mr. Emanuel Burton's dewelling-house was set on fire, and destroyed. About the same time riots took place in Manchester, of which the alleged cause was the high price of provisions. At West Houghton, near Bulton-le-moors, the rioters taking advantage of the absence of the military, assailed the large manufactur of Messrs. Wroe and Duncuft, and after having forced the doors, and set fire to the mill and machinery, dispersed before the soldiers could be assembled
"Symptoms of the same lawless disposition appeared at Newcastle-under-line, Wigan, Warrington, and Eccles; and the contagion had spread to Carlisle, and into Yorkshire. In Nottinghamshire, the machinery obnoxious to the rioters was wide weaving frames; in Lancashire, looms wrought by steam; and in Yorkshire, gig-mills, or machinery used in the shearing of woollen cloth—all inventions of modern date, and each of them calculated to supersede or diminish the demand for manual labour. . . .
"The causes alleged for these alarming proceedings were generally the want of employment for the working manufacturers—a want, however, which was the least felt in some of the places where the disorders were the most prevalent; another of the alleged causes was the application of machinery to supply the place of labour; and a third, the high price of provisions. An opinion also prevailed at the time, that the views of some of the persons engaged in these excesses extended to revolutionary measures, and contemplated the overthrow of the government; but his opinion seems to have been supported by no satisfactory evidence; and it is admited on all hands, that the leaders of the riots, although possessed of considerable influence, were all of the labouring classes.
"That societies existed for forwarding the objects of the disaffected was clearly manifest, all which societies were directed by a secret committee, which might be considered as the great mover of the whole machine; and it was established by the various information received from different parts of the country, that these societies were governened by their respective secret committees; that delegates and messengers were continually dispatched from place to place for the purpose of concerting plans and conveying information; * [*"A small weekly contribution paid by every member of these combinations formed a fund, by which the delegates and messengers were wholly or in part supported, according to the nature and extent of their services. This fund there is reason to suppose was also applied to the support of the imprisoned Luddites; and its application in this way, combined with the nature of the oath, may in some degree account for the paucity of information collected from them while in prison, and even in the prospect of death. In fact, the made no disclosures. All their secrets, whether they related to the organization of their societies, the names of their leaders, or their depots of arms, died with them."] that an illegal oath of the most atrocious kind was extensively administered;* [*"Several copies of the oath were discovered, but the following appears to be the correct version: OATH. 'I. A. B., of my own voluntary will, do declare, and solemnly swear, that I never will reveal to any person or persons under the canopy of heaven, the names of the persons, who compose this secret committee, their proceedings, meetings, places of abode, dress, features, complexion, or anything else that might lead to a discovery of the same, either by word, deed, or sign, under the penalty of being sent out of the world by the first brother who shall meet me, and my name and character blotted out of existence, and never to be remembered but with contempt and abhorrence; and I further now do swear, that I will use my best endeavours to punish by death any traitor or traitors, should any rise up among us, wherever I can find him or them, and though he should fly to the verge of nature, I will pursue him with unceasing vengeance. So help me God, and bless me to keep this my oath inviolable."] that secret signs were arranged, by which the persons engaged these conspiracies were known to each other. The military organization, carried on by persons enaged in these societies, had also prceeded to an alarming length; in some parts of the country they assembled in large numbers, chiefly by night; upon heaths or commons, taking the usual precaution of paroles and counter-signs. The muster-rolls were called over by numbers, not names; they were directed by leaders, sometimes in disguise; they placed sentries to give alarm at the approach of any person, whom they might suspect of an intention to interrupt or give information opf their proceedings; and they dispersed instantly at the firing of a gun or other signal agreed upon, and so dispersed to avoid detection . . . . (An Historical Account of the Luddites of 1811, 1812, and 1813, with Report of their Trials at York Castle, from the 2nd to the 12th of January, 1813, before Sir Alexander Thompson and Sir Simon le Blanc, Knights, Judges of the Special Commission  7-12).
In January 1813 64 persons were tried for crimes tied to the Luddite movement; 14 were executed. The proceedings of the trial were published as Report of Proceedings under Commissions of Oyer & Terminer and Gaol Delivery for County of York, Held at the Castle of York, before Sir Alexander Thomson, Knight and Sir Simon Le Blanc, Knight, from the 2nd to the 12th January 1813. From the shorthand notes of Mr. Gurney. To which are subjoined Two Proclamations, Issued in consequence of the Result of those Proceedings. Though this edition is undated, because of the sensational nature of the trial, the presumption is that it would have been published during 1813.
Katika kipindi cha kushuka kwa uchumi kutokana na mavuno mabaya na vita vya Napoleon, na wasiwasi juu ya kupoteza kazi kwa sababu ya ufundi katika sekta ya nguo, mwishoni mwa 1811 wafanyakazi na mafundi walianzisha harakati ya Luddite kupinga mfumo wa kiwanda kwa kuharibu mashine za kutengeneza nguo na njia nyingine za uzalishaji wa kiwanda. Kuvunja mashine ilikuwa ni kosa la kisheria nchini Uingereza tangu mwaka wa 1721, na adhabu ilikuwa ni kuhamishwa. Kwa sababu ya upinzani wa kuendelea kwa uendeshaji wa mashine, Sheria ya Kuvunja Frame ya 1812 ilifanya uharibifu wa njia za uzalishaji, kama vile mashine za nguvu na injini za mvuke, lakini pia aina mbalimbali za vifaa vingine, chini ya adhabu ya kifo. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika kitabu cha The New England Journal of Literature, ""Mtazamo wa ghasia na uasi ulijitokeza katika nchi ya Nottingham, ambayo, katika mwaka huo, ilipanuka hadi kaunti za Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lancashire, Cheshire, na Yorkshire, na kwa kiwango fulani, ilijaa wilaya zote za viwanda za Uingereza." "Wapiganaji waliojitambulisha kama ""Luddites"" (Luddites) kwa sababu ya kuwahamasisha wafuasi wao, walidai kuwa walikuwa chini ya uongozi wa kiongozi mmoja, ambaye walimwita kwa jina la uwongo la Ned Ludd, au Jenerali Ludd, wakijita ""Ludds,"" ""Ludders,"" au ""Luddites.""" Hata hivyo, hakuna sababu ya kuamini kwamba kwa kweli kulikuwa na kiongozi mmoja. Katika kila wilaya ambapo kutoridhika kulitawala, mtu mwenye kutamani zaidi alichukua ubora wa ndani, na akawa Jenerali Ludd wa wilaya yake mwenyewe. "Luditi walijitolea kuharibu vifaa fulani vya mashine, ambavyo vilikuwa vimebadilisha au kupunguza kazi ya mikono, katika utengenezaji wa vifaa vilivyotumiwa.""" Machafuko hayo, ambayo sasa yalikuwa yamevutia tahadhari ya bunge, na kuamsha hofu ya hali ya kutisha zaidi, kwanza yalijitokeza kwa uharibifu wa idadi kubwa ya mifumo ya soksi mpya iliyojengwa, na vikundi vidogo vya wanaume, hasa wafanya-soko, ambao walikusanyika katika maeneo mbalimbali kuzunguka mji wa Nottingham. Watu waliohusika katika ghasia hizo walikuwa hasa wale waliofutwa kazi kwa sababu ya matumizi ya mashine mpya, au kwa kukataa kwao kufanya kazi kwa kiwango cha mshahara uliotolewa na wazalishaji, na hasa walitafuta uharibifu wa mifumo iliyomilikiwa na wale wafanya kazi, au iliyofanywa na wale wanaume waliokubali kufanya kazi kwa viwango vya chini. Kwa sababu ya upinzani dhidi ya machafuko ya waasi, wakati mmoja wao alipopigwa risasi, tarehe 11 Novemba, katika Bullwell, mahakimu waliona ni muhimu kuomba msaada wa jeshi kubwa, ambalo lilikusanywa haraka, na ambalo mwanzoni lilikuwa na wanajeshi wa eneo hilo na wa kujitolea, ambao waliongezwa karibu na polisi wa pekee mia nne. Hofu ya jeshi hilo ilionekana kwa muda kuondoa roho ya uasi; lakini kabla ya mwisho wa mwezi wa Novemba, mashambulizi yalianza tena, na yakawa na umbo la utaratibu. Katika vijiji kadhaa, waasi hawakuangamiza tu mawe, bali pia walichukua michango ya kuishi, ambayo iliongeza haraka idadi yao, na kupanua uwanja wao wa vitendo. "Kama vile ilivyokuwa wakati huo, jeshi la kawaida la Uingereza lilipelekwa Nottingham, na mnamo Januari 1812 maafisa wawili wa polisi wenye uzoefu zaidi walipelekwa kutoka London kwa kusudi la kusaidia mamlaka za mitaa katika juhudi zao za kurudisha utulivu katika wilaya zilizokuwa zimevurugika.""" Mchanganyiko wa utaratibu ambao mauaji hayo yalifanywa, hofu ambayo yaliwachochea, na mwelekeo wa wengi wa madaraka ya chini kuunga mkono, badala ya kupinga, ilifanya iwe vigumu sana kugundua wahalifu, au kupata ushahidi wa kuwahukumu wale waliokamatwa. Hata hivyo, baadhi yao walipelekwa mahakamani katika kesi ya spring ya 1812 huko Nottingham, na watu saba waliohukumiwa kwa makosa tofauti yanayohusiana na ghasia, walihukumiwa kusafirishwa. Wakati huo huo, sheria zilipitishwa na bunge kuanzisha polisi katika wilaya zilizosumbuliwa, juu ya mfumo wa kale wa ulinzi na vita, na kufanya uharibifu wa mifumo ya kuhifadhi kuwa uhalifu mkubwa, unaohukumiwa kwa kifo. "Mwanzoni mwa mwaka huo, roho ya ghasia na usumbufu ilijipitisha katika Cheshire na Lancashire; katika Tentwistle, katika kaunti ya zamani, mashine za pamba katika kinu cha Bwana Rhodes ziliharibiwa kabisa; na huko Stockport, nyumba ya Bwana Goodwin ilichomwa moto Aprili 14, na mashine zake za kutengeneza mvuke ziliharibiwa.""" Mnamo tarehe 20 mwezi huohuo, kiwanda cha Daniel Burton na Wanawe, kilichokuwa Middleton, umbali wa maili sita kutoka Manchester, kilishambuliwa na genge la watu elfu kadhaa, na ingawa waasi hao walifukuzwa, na wanne kati yao waliuawa na jeshi lililokusanyika kulinda kiwanda hicho, shambulio la pili lilifanywa siku iliyofuata, wakati nyumba ya bwana Emanuel Burton ilipowashwa moto na kuharibiwa. Karibu wakati huohuo ghasia zilifanyika huko Manchester, ambazo zilisemekana kusababishwa na bei ya juu ya vyakula. Katika West Houghton, karibu na Bulton-le-Moore, waasi, wakitumia upungufu wa jeshi, walishambulia kiwanda kikubwa cha Wroe na Duncoat, na baada ya kuvunja milango, na kuwasha moto kwenye kiwanda na mashine, walitawanyika kabla ya askari kukusanyika. Katika Nottinghamshire, mashine zilizokuwa zenye kuchukiza kwa waasi zilikuwa mifumo pana ya kufuma; katika Lancashire, mashine za kufuma zilizotengenezwa kwa mvuke; na katika Yorkshire, mashine za kufuma zilizotumiwa katika kukata vitambaa vya sufu - zote ni uvumbuzi wa kisasa, na kila moja yao ilihesabiwa kuchukua nafasi au kupunguza mahitaji ya kazi ya mikono. . . . "Sababishi zilizodaiwa kwa ajili ya kesi hizi za kutisha kwa ujumla zilikuwa ukosefu wa ajira kwa wazalishaji wanaofanya kazi - ukosefu, hata hivyo, ambao ulikuwa mdogo zaidi katika baadhi ya maeneo ambapo matatizo yalikuwa ya kawaida; sababu nyingine iliyodaiwa ilikuwa matumizi ya mashine ili kutoa mahali pa kazi; na ya tatu, bei ya juu ya vifaa. """ """Wakati huo, maoni ya baadhi ya watu waliohusika katika machafuko hayo yalienea hadi hatua za mapinduzi, na kutafakari juu ya kuangusha serikali; lakini maoni yake yanaonekana kuwa hayakuungwa mkono na ushahidi wa kuridhisha; na ni kukubaliwa na wote kwamba viongozi wa ghasia, ingawa walikuwa na ushawishi mkubwa, walikuwa wote wa madarasa ya kazi." "Kwenye jamii zilizopo kwa ajili ya kuhamisha vitu vya wasio na furaha ilikuwa wazi wazi, jamii zote ambazo zilielekezwa na kamati ya siri, ambayo inaweza kuchukuliwa kama mwendeshaji mkubwa wa mashine nzima; na ilianzishwa na habari mbalimbali zilizopokelewa kutoka sehemu tofauti za nchi, kwamba jamii hizi zilitawaliwa na kamati zao za siri; kwamba wajumbe na wajumbe walipelekwa mara kwa mara kutoka mahali hadi mahali kwa kusudi la kupanga mipango na kuhamisha habari. "" - J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J. J." Kuna sababu ya kudhani kwamba fedha hizo zilitumiwa pia kuwahudumia wale waliofungwa gerezani, na matumizi yake kwa njia hiyo, pamoja na hali ya kiapo, huenda kwa kadiri fulani yakawa ndiyo sababu ya ukosefu wa habari zilizokusanywa kutoka kwao walipokuwa gerezani, na hata walipokuwa wakikabiliwa na kifo. Kwa kweli, hawakutoa taarifa yoyote. Siri zao zote, kama zilihusiana na shirika la jamii zao, majina ya viongozi wao, au ghala zao za silaha, zilifa pamoja nao." "Kila mtu alishindwa kuamini kwamba kiapo hicho kilikuwa cha ""kinyume cha sheria"" na kwamba kilikuwa cha ""kinyume cha sheria"" sana; nakala kadhaa za kiapo hicho zilipatikana, lakini inaonekana kwamba kile kilichofuata ndicho kilichokuwa sahihi: ""KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA K 'Mimi. A. (Mwanzo wa Sura ya 2) "B. Kwa hiari yangu mwenyewe, natangaza na kuapa kwa dhati kwamba sitamfunulia mtu yeyote au watu wote walio chini ya paa la mbinguni majina ya watu wanaofanyiza kamati hii ya siri, shughuli zao, mikutano yao, mahali pa kuishi, mavazi yao, sura yao, rangi yao, au kitu kingine chochote ambacho kinaweza kuongoza kwenye kugundua jambo hili, ama kwa neno, tendo, au saini, chini ya adhabu ya kutupwa nje ya ulimwengu na ndugu wa kwanza atakaye kukutana nami, na jina langu na tabia yangu zitakoma kabisa, na kamwe hazitakumbukwa ila kwa dharau na chuki. """ Basi nisaidie Mungu, na unibariki ili niishike hii kiapo changu kisichovunjika. "] Alisema ishara za siri zilitengenezwa ili watu walioshiriki katika njama hizo waweze kujulikana. Shirika la kijeshi, lililoendeshwa na watu waliojulikana katika jamii hizi, pia lilikuwa limeendelea kwa urefu wa kutisha; katika sehemu fulani za nchi walikusanyika kwa idadi kubwa, hasa usiku; juu ya heaths au commons, kuchukua tahadhari ya kawaida ya paroles na ishara za kinyume. "Watu waliohudhuria mkutano huo waliitwa kwa nambari, si kwa majina; walielekezwa na viongozi, wakati mwingine wakiwa wamevalia mavazi; waliweka walinzi ili kutoa onyo kwa mtu yeyote ambaye wangeweza kumshuku kuwa na nia ya kuvuruga au kutoa habari juu ya utaratibu wao; na walitawanyika mara moja kwa risasi au ishara nyingine iliyokubaliwa, na hivyo kuenea ili kuepuka kugunduliwa. """ . . . "Historia ya Luddites ya 1811, 1812 na 1813 na Ripoti ya Majaribio yao katika York Castle, kutoka Januari 2 hadi 12, 1813 mbele ya Sir Alexander Thompson na Sir Simon LeBlanc, ""Wafalme wa Tume ya Maalum"" (Knights, 7-12)." Katika mwaka wa 1813 watu 64 walihukumiwa kwa uhalifu uliohusiana na harakati ya Luddite; 14 waliuawa. "Makubaliano hayo yalichapishwa kama ""Ripoti ya Majaribio chini ya Tume ya Oyer na Terminer na Utoaji wa Gari kwa Kaunti ya York, uliofanyika katika Ngome ya York, mbele ya Sir Alexander Thomson, Knight na Sir Simon LeBlanc, Knight, kutoka Januari 2 hadi 12 1813.""" Kutoka maelezo ya kifupi ya Mheshimiwa Gurney. Ambayo ni subjoined Matangazo mawili, iliyotolewa kama matokeo ya matokeo ya taratibu hizo. Ingawa toleo hili halina tarehe, kwa sababu ya hali ya kusisimua ya kesi hiyo, inadhaniwa kwamba lilitolewa wakati wa 1813.