Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
History
Minor
N/A
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Jeffrey Bibbee
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
“Failed Reactions Against Industrialism: Luddites and Owenites” describes the failure of two English reactions to the Industrial Revolution. The Luddites, a reactionary conservative movement comprised of middle-class artisans, violently rejected the use of modern technologies because it threatened their economic opportunities. The Luddites’ middle-class constituency ultimately led to its failure, alienating themselves from the economic concerns of the working class and the nobility. Additionally, their violent protests made them unpopular to the British government. The Owenites, a radical ideology founded by industrialist Robert Owen, taught that the best way to eliminate the negative effects of industrialism was to educate people in right morality and to abolish private property. Owen founded several communes in order to validate this ideology. The Owenites failed because of their optimistic view of human goodness as well as their communes’ reliance on outside funds. Both the Luddites and the Owenites failed to make lasting changes because they alienated themselves from the established government and the wider working class. Rather, lasting change in English society came from working within the bounds of the established government with the popular support of all the various different classes.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
History Department Symposium
Failed Reactions Against Industrialism: Luddites and Owenites
“Failed Reactions Against Industrialism: Luddites and Owenites” describes the failure of two English reactions to the Industrial Revolution. The Luddites, a reactionary conservative movement comprised of middle-class artisans, violently rejected the use of modern technologies because it threatened their economic opportunities. The Luddites’ middle-class constituency ultimately led to its failure, alienating themselves from the economic concerns of the working class and the nobility. Additionally, their violent protests made them unpopular to the British government. The Owenites, a radical ideology founded by industrialist Robert Owen, taught that the best way to eliminate the negative effects of industrialism was to educate people in right morality and to abolish private property. Owen founded several communes in order to validate this ideology. The Owenites failed because of their optimistic view of human goodness as well as their communes’ reliance on outside funds. Both the Luddites and the Owenites failed to make lasting changes because they alienated themselves from the established government and the wider working class. Rather, lasting change in English society came from working within the bounds of the established government with the popular support of all the various different classes.