Leeds Woollen Workers Petition (1786) and Letter from Leeds Cloth Merchants (1791) - Introduction to Civilization

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[...] Moreover, machines allow them to stay competitive because before machines, they had more expensive prices than the competition. Indeed, machines reduce manufacturing cost and labor cost. To answer the Leeds Woollen Workers worries, they explained that machines have been beneficial for them because their wages have increased due to the increase of the trade. The Scribbling Mill, the Spinning Frame and the Fly Shuttle spun the Industrial Revolution, benefiting everyone. Appendixes Leeds Woollen Workers Petition - https://legacy.fordham.edu/Halsall/mod/1786machines.asp This petition by workers in Leeds major center of wool manufacture in Yorkshire) appeared in a local newspapers in 1786. [...]

[...] Some say, Begin and learn some other business. - Suppose we do; who will maintain our families, whilst we undertake the arduous task; and when we have learned it, how do we know we shall be any better for all our pains; for by the time we have served our second apprenticeship, another machine may arise, which may take away that business also; so that our families, being half pined whilst we are learning how to provide them with bread, will be wholly so during the period of our third apprenticeship. [...]

[...] To the Merchants, Clothiers and all such as wish well to the Staple Manufactory of this Nation. The Humble ADDRESS and PETITION of Thousands, who labour in the Cloth Manufactory. SHEWETH, That the Scribbling-Machines have thrown thousands of your petitioners out of employ, whereby they are brought into great distress, and are not able to procure a maintenance for their families, and deprived them of the opportunity of bringing up their children to labour: We have therefore to request, that prejudice and self-interest may be laid aside, and that you may pay that attention to the following facts, which the nature of the case requires. [...]

[...] Leeds Woollen Workers Petition (1786) and Letter from Leeds Cloth Merchants (1791) - Introduction to Civilization English work Present the two documents (type). Who are the authors of the documents? Who are they addressed to? What are the messages? How do they relate to each other? Leeds Woollen Workers Petition The first document is a petition written in 1786 by the Leeds woollen workers. [...]

[...] Moreover, they mention another negative expect of the use of machine: they do not produce quality product. They wore out the fabric. Letter from Leeds Cloth Merchants The second document is a letter from Leeds Cloth Merchants written in 1791 as a response to the Leeds woollen workers and more generally to all criticisms of the use of machinery. They explain that the machines are really important because the demand of wool increase, so they have to meet the demand. Indeed, they depend on foreign demand. [...]