What did authorities think of the Luddites?

Answer 1

Luddites were a group of textiles artisans who were unemployed due to the fact that new machinery's were introduced. Luddites smashed or destroyed stocking-frames that put them out of work. However Luddites were not anti-technology, but simply destroyed machines that affected their livelihood. In 1811, Britain was at war with the French, economic situation at the time was bad, the quantity of Britain's overseas trade had fallen and food prices were high, employers cut workers wages or sacked them.

The Luddites were angry, and so formed a group and used an effective method of smashing stocking-frames or attacking Mills.

The Authorites feared that a Revolution might take place and were horrified of the 1790's French Revolution and that it would be impossible to win the war against France if there is a Revolution. So the Authorities passed out a law called THE FRAME-BREAKING ACT, that outlawed any Luddites tactics and anyone found guilty or seen smashing stocking-frame were punishable by death.

The Luddites however did not have any significance of challenging Authorities, as by 1813, economic situation improved, though there were unemployment issues. However Luddites did influence and inspired the Swing Riots.