Final answer:
Poor workers saw little improvement in their lives and some workers, such as the Luddites , smashed the machines they thought were taking their jobs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Poor workers saw little improvement in their lives and some workers, such as the Luddites, smashed the machines they thought were taking their jobs. The Luddites were British factory workers who responded to the introduction of mechanized production with violence and machine-breaking in the early 19th century.
They feared that this new technology would threaten their skilled labor positions and ultimately their livelihoods. Their protests, which started in 1811, included sending threatening letters, rioting, and organizing destructive campaigns against the machines they viewed as their competition.
Despite their efforts, the fabric of industry had changed, moving away from the skilled artisan work towards mass production, often at the cost of worker safety and fair compensation. The machinery made goods cheaper, but the human cost was high: long hours, low wages, and dangerous working conditions became the new norm.
The movement lost momentum as the government responded with harsh measures, even passing laws to make the destruction of machinery a capital offense. Today, 'Luddite' is a term used to describe those who oppose new technology or innovation.