Question

Why were threshing machines opposed by the poor in England?

Answer 1

Hint: During Napoleonic wars prices of food grains were high due to which farmers were forced to expand their production. Fearing that there would be a shortage of labour they began buying new threshing machines that were newly introduced in the market. Soon they realised that these new machines were of no good to poor farmers.

Complete answer: Farmers in England were tired of the rude and disrespecting behaviour of the labours, their drinking habits and delays and difficulty in making them work. Thus they thought these machines would reduce their dependence on labourers and make things easier for them. However After the Napoleonic wars ended, thousands of soldiers returned to their homes. They are in search of alternative jobs. It was also a time when grain from Europe began flowing into England and made conditions worse for farmers. This resulted in the decline of prices and Agriculture depression set in. Landowners started demanding imports of the crops to be stopped and reduced their cultivation. They also cut the wages of the number of workmen they employed. The unemployed poor farmers start moving village to village in search of work to earn their livelihood. Then finally the spread of Captain Swing riots in the countryside proved to be a disaster on the already bad conditions of the poor.
Thus for the poor in England threshing machines proved to be bad luck.

Note: The rich farmers manage to sell their grains, make a profit and become powerful. However the poor were in large numbers and left unsecured and unstable. Some poor farmers migrated to southern regions where jobs were available.