What was the main concern of the Luddites in their movement against industrialization?

• A. Destruction of natural resources
• B. Job loss due to machinery
• C. Government regulations on factories
• D. Union representation for workers

Answer: (B)

The main concern of the Luddites during their movement against industrialization was indeed job loss due to machinery. The Luddites were a group of English textile workers in the early 19th century who felt threatened by the rapid advancements in technology that introduced machines capable of performing tasks traditionally done by hand. This technological shift often resulted in the displacement of skilled workers and significant unemployment, as factories sought efficiency and higher production rates through mechanization.

The Luddites organized protests and sometimes resorted to violence, destroying machines in the belief that this would protect their livelihoods. Their movement highlighted the broader social and economic upheavals of the Industrial Revolution, where the introduction of machines led to a stark transformation in the workforce and community structures. The focus on job loss emphasizes the profound impact industrialization had on the lives of workers at the time, making it a central concern of the Luddites’ actions against the growing dominance of industrial machinery.