New Harmony
Simran Singh
Important Leaders
Robert Owen
- Born in England in 1771 to a large family
- rejected Christianity, and instead, believed in need for social reform
- believed that an individual's character and ideals are shaped by the environment they surround themselves in.
- By controlling the environment, superior character could be developed
- Endeavored to improve health, education, well-being, and rights of working class
- Was able to practice utopian beliefs on workers in New Lanark, Scotland by: developing a system of life for them, improving working conditions, and controlling their lives
- came to United States from Great Britain to test out his Utopian beliefs
William Maclure
- Scottish Philanthropist from Philadelphia
- Robert Owen's partner in the New Harmony venture
- A retired, successful business man who delved himself into scholarship and reform issues
- played a key part in educational reform during the European and American Enlightenment and early industrialization
- Introduced Pestalozzian methods to New Harmony
Goals and Tactics
Goals:
- Develop superior character within a controlled environment
- Form a community that would serve as a model for "New Moral World" communities
- Transform world society according to enlightenment principles
- Use of education in order to get rid of inequality between social classes
Tactics:
In order to settle New Harmony...
- Robert Owen invited people to apply for the 800 spaces that were available in the nouvelle community
In order to attain goals set for New Harmony...
- Robert Owen brought some of the most advanced European scientists and educators to New Harmony
- Equality for all in the utopian community, both male and female
- Each citizen required to contribute to the labor force in community
- Discouraged marriage in the community; instead, encouraged "free love," which can be coined as serious monogamy.
- Developed system of "Time Money": New Harmony currency worth the number of hours worked; could be used to buy supplies, etc.
- Establishment of accessible education for all in the community (this came in the form of public education, school for younger kids, etc. )
This is an example of the type of currency used by those in New Harmony. It was part of the "Time Money" system.
Achievements (Pre-Civil War)
Although the community was strongly tied together due to the shared labor, it lacked the strong foundation which could only be found in religion; due to there being no central religion, New Harmony dissolved in three years time. But before it was gone, New Harmony had quite a few achievements, attaining some of the goals that had been set forth when the community has first been started...
- Robert Owen and William Maclure founded the concept of public education
- The community became a scientific center of national significance
- Flourishing of art and culture, including theatrical productions
- Advancement in Women's rights: full voting rights while the community was intact as well as full property rights by the 1830's in New Harmony
Robert Owen: New Harmony