AI and the Spinning Jenny
Introduced in 1764 the spinning jenny was an early multiple-spindle machine used for spinning wool or cotton, and it was one of the key inventions that kicked off the Industrial Revolution.
It drastically increased the productivity of spinning yarn by allowing a single worker to operate multiple spindles simultaneously, replacing the traditional single-spindle spinning wheel.
The Invention and Introduction
The spinning jenny was invented by James Hargreaves, a British carpenter and weaver. The spinning jenny was strongly opposed by manual textile workers in England, particularly the hand spinners and weavers.
This opposition led to protests and even physical attacks on the machines.
Why Workers Opposed the Spinning Jenny
The opposition stemmed from the spinning jenny's immediate and dramatic impact on employment and wages in the textile industry:
Job Displacement
The primary concern was technological unemployment. Before the jenny, spinning was done using a single-spindle wheel. The spinning jenny allowed one worker (often a woman working from home) to spin multiple threads at once (initially 8, later up to 120).
This instantly made the traditional hand spinners obsolete, as their output could not compete with the new machines, leading to mass job displacement.
Wage Reduction
As the supply of spun yarn skyrocketed, driven by the machine's efficiency, the price of yarn dropped dramatically.
This forced any remaining hand spinners to accept drastically reduced wages just to compete, severely threatening the livelihoods of entire families who depended on the income from spinning.
Attacks on Property
The resistance was sometimes violent, particularly in the initial years of the Industrial Revolution when the factory system was emerging:
Riots and Destruction: James Hargreaves himself was forced to move from his original home in Lancashire after local spinners, fearing for their jobs, broke into his house and destroyed his spinning jennies.
Luddism Precursor: This type of anti-technology protest preceded the more organized Luddite movement (which opposed power looms and stocking frames) but shared the same core motivation: a defense against machines that threatened traditional craftsmanship and wages.
In short, the opposition was driven by economic necessity—the fear that a highly efficient machine would take away their means of supporting their families.
Tech Notes:
Disclaimer: This is not intended as professional advice. It's for informational purposes only.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
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