Question

Describe the cause of the Silesian weavers’ uprising. Comment on the viewpoint of the journalist.

Answer 1

The cause of the Silesian weavers’ uprising was the cheating of the weavers by the contractors. In 1845, the weavers revolted against the contractors who supplied them with raw materials to weave finished fabrics. The contractors drastically decreased their payments. According to journalist Wilhelm Wolft, the incident began when fellow weavers’ throng arrived at the contractor’s residence and demanded better salaries. They were not treated properly, so a group of people forced their way into the contractor’s house, destroying the furniture, window panes, and plundering everything.