THE HISTORY OF LUDDISM:

PLEASE NOTE: We do not condone the violence discussed here. We share with you this brief overview of the original Luddites to cite the inspiration for our club name and highlight important social and political issues that impact our communities to this day.

The Industrial Revolution was a global movement away from family run farms and handmade crafts and towards large scale agriculture and factory production. It is often observed in two parts, the first beginning around 1760 in Great Britain. This half of the movement is characterized by the emergence of coal and steam as energy resources along with iron and steel as newly essential materials. Being that these new innovations were mostly the result of reduced government interference in the economy, it was mostly private investors who benefited. For the working class, conditions degraded as the revolution’s second wave, also know as the technological revolution came about in the early 19th century. During this time, the practice of mass production increased rapidly. Textile employers continued to replace skilled craftsmen with machines operated by inexperienced workers in order to cheapen the cost of production, in the process compromising the integrity of their output. The cost of living increased, wages decreased, and many even lost their jobs.

Amidst this all, anxious sentiments and even groups of resistance emerged. In March of 1811, the Luddites, for whom we are named after, began to organize in Nottinghamshire, England during an especially desperate time in great part due to the Napoleonic War.

The Luddites blamed the machines. They organized under the myth of Ned Ludd, a man said to have broken the first machine in the 1770’s. It is likely he never existed, but the narrative fueled a collection of initiatives to make factory owners pay for their inhumane ways of business. Letters were written, signed, and sent to employers, but factories and the homes of their owners were also destroyed. There were even instances of brutality against the owners themselves.

Though Ned Ludd acted as a veil of anonymity for many involved, others were identified and severely punished, some even executed, at the hands of the British government. This eventually put the Luddite movement to an end in 1817.

Today, the Luddites are often referenced as a failed attempt at halting inevitable technological progress. They are widely understood as technophobes. In reality, it was the impact of new technologies on their livelihood that sparked this infamous revolt.

So why do we call ourselves the Luddite Club? Because we see the value in protecting our selves and our communities from the harmful impacts of rapidly changing technology.

THE MODERN DAY LUDDITE MOVEMENT:

Our club organized not under economic strain, but a collective desire to live with intention. It is centuries after the original revolt, and machines have only continued to replace jobs since their popularization. What’s worse, they have begun to replace our minds and overall persons. From TikTok shop to AI employees and companions, we are drifting further away from our world, each other, and ourselves. Abandoned third spaces, antagonistic attitudes, and an overall lack of contentment are just some of the symptoms.

The Luddite Club is a collective of individuals working to reclaim our communities not through violence but through collaboration in the face of an increasingly isolating global culture.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PART OF THE PA LUDDITE CLUB:

The PA Luddite Club is one of many organizations inspired and supported by the original Luddite Club of Brooklyn, NY, which is today a Non Profit! Upon request, we provide access to the Non Profit’s Newsletter as well as updates on its newest endeavors. 

Our club hosts events specific to the Philadelphia community. We welcome all young adults in the area, ages 18-25, to attend, but also help organize these initiatives. Examples of upcoming initiatives include, but are not limited to: 

skill sharing, nature expos, community service, performances, group discussions and creative classes

If you’ve been looking for a way to connect with like minded people, then we are confident this is the organization for you. 

PLEASE NOTE two things of the upmost importance:

1. The Luddite Club does not tolerate Bigotry

2. As a collective, we will not interact with the media moving forward