Editing Industrial Revolution (section)

====Luddites====
{{Main|Luddite}}
[[File:Luddite.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Engraving of ''Ned Ludd, Leader of the Luddites'', 1812]]
The rapid industrialisation of the English economy cost many craft workers their jobs. The Luddite movement started first with [[lace]] and [[hosiery]] workers near Nottingham, and spread to other areas of the textile industry. Many weavers found themselves suddenly unemployed as they could no longer compete with machines which required less skilled labour to produce more cloth than one weaver. Many such unemployed workers, weavers, and others turned their animosity towards the machines that had taken their jobs and began destroying factories and machinery. These attackers became known as Luddites, supposedly followers of [[Ned Ludd]], a folklore figure.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Byrne |first=Richard |date=August 2013 |title=A Nod to Ned Ludd |url=https://thebaffler.com/salvos/a-nod-to-ned-ludd |journal=[[The Baffler]] |volume=23 |issue=23 |pages=120–128 |access-date=2 August 2020 |doi=10.1162/BFLR_a_00183 |archive-date=9 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809111005/https://thebaffler.com/salvos/a-nod-to-ned-ludd |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The first attacks of the movement began in 1811. The Luddites rapidly gained popularity, and the Government took drastic measures using the militia or army to protect industry. Rioters who were caught were tried and hanged, or [[Penal transportation|transported]] for life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/people/luddites.html#link4 |title=Luddites in Marsden: Trials at York |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326170835/http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/people/luddites.html |archive-date=26 March 2012}}</ref>

Unrest continued in other sectors as they industrialised, such as with agricultural labourers in the 1830s when large parts of southern Britain were affected by the [[Captain Swing]] disturbances. Threshing machines were a particular target, and [[hay]]rick burning was a popular activity. The riots led to the first formation of trade unions and further pressure for reform.