Esther M. Lederberg
Canuts rebel

Major revolts by silk workers, called "Canuts" took place in Lyon, France and elsewhere in France. These revolts were known collectively as the Canut revolts. These rebellions occurred in 1831, 1834 and 1848. They were among the first well-defined uprisings by a new "class" that appeared, during the Industrial Revolution, known as the proletariat: workers that possessed only their labor power. The overwhelming majority of Canuts could not afford ownership of their own Jacquard looms.

The First Canut revolt in 1831 was provoked by a bad economy (over production: a saturated market) and a resultant drop in silk prices, which caused a drop in workers' wages. The Canuts wanted a minimum price imposed on silk. The refusal of the manufacturers to reduce their profits, rebelled. The Canutes seized the arsenal and repulsed the local national guard and military in a bloody battle, which left the Canuts in control of the Lyon. The government sent Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, at the head of an army of 20,000 to restore order. Soult was able to retake the town without any bloodshed, and without making any compromises with the workers. Some workers were arrested. This governmental opposition to the Canuts had its dangers: the French government derived much profit from the labor of the Canutes: too much oppression and the government could kill the goose that layed the golden egg. After all, France was attempting to compete with an English slave based Industrial Revolution.

The Second Canut revolt took place in 1834 when owners attempted to further exploit the proletariat. The workers rebelled again. The government crushed the rebellion in a bloody battle, and deported or imprisoned 10,000 insurgents.

The third rebellion occurred in 1848, due once again to further exploitation of the proletariat.

These rebellions were watched with acute interest by governmental officials from other countries, such as Russia. Tsarist oficials were also interested in this new "class", the proletariat, as Russia was slowly creating factories, thus was developing its own proletariat (also engaged in textile industries, such as at Kreenholm).
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