Transcript New Harmony p4

New Harmony
Neither New Nor Particularly
Harmonious
Madeline Battalio/Angelus McNally
“Man's character was made
for and not by him”
-Robert
Harmony, Indiana
In 1814, the Harmony Society- a Christian group from Germany who had been
persecuted by Lutherans- came to the United States and founded the city
Harmony in Indiana. For 10 years, they built up a successful and thriving city built
on a like-minded society with a strong leader- Johann Georg (George) Rapp.
In 1824, the Society sold their city to Robert Owen, a Scottish craving the
opportunity to prove that his ideas could create a successful settlement based on
achieving happiness, enlightenment, and prosperity through education, science,
technology, and communal living. Owen renamed the city New Harmony.
Chronology
1814
1824
1827
1858
Established by
Harmony Society
Conditions that created the need for change
Robert Owen, a Welshman from a rich background, was a
significant part of utopian socialism. Many of his beliefs were
based on the idea that people have no control over what
shaped their individual character; therefore, it is necessary to
ensure people are surrounded by physical, social, and moral
influences early age. Such beliefs carved his ideas on worker
welfare and practical education.
Owen explains that he left his country “in 1824 to go to the United
States to sow the seeds in that new Fertile soil- new for material
and mental growth- the cradle of the future liberty of the human
race”
Problem the movement attempted to address
-opposed to things such as private property and religion or property being the
basis of existence
-instead, he proposed education based on practical training and creating
character, rather than classical education Additionally
-hoped to create a model communal society with his envisionment of a “new moral
world” free of social classes and personal wealth
-By controlling the environment, Owen believed that a superior character could be
created, and thus a new social order.
“Why did Owen so quickly purchase New Harmony and launch his Utopian village there? The underlying
factor was his deep commitment to the belief that it would be the seed for other communities, all of which
would eventually lead to the new society he envisioned” (Carmony)
Earlier attempts at reform
In addition to New Harmony, Owen had constructed a mill town society at New
Lanark in Scotland. This town was pretty successful and put forth huge reforms
geared towards Owenite ideals. However, “by the mid-1820s New Lanark was
not a promising place for the achievement of his goals... the departure of the
Harmonists offered a rare opportunity to purchase a town, already adapted to
community living, at a price far less than one could be built” (Carmony).
“Owen became convinced that the United States provided the perfect setting for
his utopian experiments... Undoubtedly, Owen was responding in part to the
myth of the West and its place in the process of social regeneration... as well as
to the success that communities like the Shakers were having in that
environment” (University of Virginia).
Initial Reactions
“Owen's increasingly radical ideas had stirred resentment and criticism among
his business associates and throughout the British Isles” (Carmony)
Many believed Owen’s plans to be financially unstable, as the downfall of the
community eventually proved.
“Not to be overlooked is the appeal which America had for Owen (and many
Europeans). Here, Owen believed, freedom and progress were thriving, and
society was much less encrusted with custom and tradition than in Europe. In
short, Owen believed that utopia could be more easily achieved in the New
World than in the Old” (Carmony)
Owen’s ideas weren’t well received in Europe, so he took his plan for a
Visitors to New Harmony remarked upon the beauty and symmetry of the town.
Solutions Proposed
The basis for Owen’s New Harmony was, as stated by Donald F. Carmony and
Josephine M. Elliott, “Equality among members was strongly emphasized. All
were to be considered as one family with no one heldin higher or lower esteem
because of occupation… Each member was to render his or her best service to
the community and receive the best physical, moral and intellectual education the
community was able to provide” (Carmony, Elliot)
How effective were the goals?
Josiah Warren, a member of the Harmony Society, noticed that the society lacked
individual sovereignty and “it appeared that it was nature’s own inherent law of
diversity that had conquered us… our ‘united interests’ were directly at war with
the individualities of persons and circumstances and the instinct of selfpreservation…”
Owen’s son, William Owen, expressed concern; “I doubt whether those who have
been comfortable and content in their old mode of life will find an increase of
enjoyment when they come her. How long it will require to accustom themselves
to their new mode of living, I am unable to determine.”"
How effective were the goals? cont.
One key thing Owen lacked in New Harmony was a uniting leader. Since his
utopia was different in that it specifically had no binding religion or religious figure,
there was no thing to guide the people with a similar cause and belief. Hence,
individual motives played a factor, and it is believed that there was not enough
individual sovereignty. Otherwise, Owen set up a communist system that
should’ve pleased everyone. But, creating an entirely equal society with the
difficult goals he had in mind proved to be a challenge.
What did the leaders of the movement say about it?
“Why did Owen so quickly purchase New Harmony and launch his Utopian village
there? The underlying factor was his deep commitment to the belief that it would
be the seed for other communities, all of which would eventually lead to the new
society he envisioned” (Carmony)
Owen served as a fervent promoter for the community, and, much like a club promoter who
stirs up so much interest in a club that fights break out, Owen invited so many people to the
colony that a rash of overcrowding broke out.
Said William Owen, doubting his father, "’The enjoyment of a reformer,’ he confided in his
journal, ‘is much more in contemplation, than in reality ….’ More revealing is his comment: ‘I
doubt whether those who have been comfortable and contented in their old mode of life, will
find an increase of enjoyment when they come here’” (Carmony)
Consequences and Results
Due to a lack of planning on Owen’s part, the community was financially
unstable and collapsed after two years.
His welcoming attitude brought an overwhelming amount of people who were
unmotivated to work to the colony.
Despite the communist system implemented to avoid them, inequalities led to
complaints and frustration.
People, parents especially, became displeased with the age-based labor and
education plans enforced by Owen and his family.
Concrete plans for ownership and membership and for the mechanics of the
community’s economy weren’t initially laid out and were never finalized,
Conditions and Implications
Lack of a shared religion lead to a less unified budding society. This absence of
a strong central belief lead to the community’s decline.
“Because Owen did not believe in God, there was no central covenant that
committed the residents of New Harmony to their enterprise” (University of
Virginia)
Owen invited anyone and everyone who shared his ideals to join the
community, leading to a skill imbalance.
New Harmony established a number of constitutions that shared visions and
ideals for the community, yet contained no plans for the implementation of
these ideas.
Significance and Achievements
Based on reasoning and ethics rather than religion, as many other movements
at the time were.
Despite a volatile dynamic within New Harmony, Owen was able to persuade a
number of great thinkers of the time to join the community, including his four
highly accomplished sons and William Maclure, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur,
Joseph Neef, Marie Louise Duclos Fretageot, Frances Wright, and Thomas
Say, to name a few.
Achievements included:
first free library
civic drama club
public school system for men and women
New Harmony Plans Under Robert Owen
Related Movements
Old Economy Village- another town settled by the Harmonists, the original
settlers of Harmony.
Zoar- a utopian communist village settled by German religious dissenters,
similar to the Harmonists. Was relatively long lasting (80 years).
Shakers- a religiously-based sect with communal colonies.
Hopedale Community- similar to New Harmony, the founder hoped for the
utopian community to be a beacon of reform and learning.
Oneida Community- a religious commune with a strong silverware
manufacturing industry and unconventional morals.
Conclusion
The goal of New Harmony was to cultivate a community of social equality, free
education, and scholarly achievement.
Didn’t work out as a socialist commune, but did promote and produce scientific
and academic accomplishments.
The popularity of the community showed the desire of Americans to have
greater equality within their changing Industrial world.
An (albeit Marxist writer) says that “Robert Owen stands out like a giant
because he did spend his considerable fortune in the cause of improving the
lives of the workers. He established a number of communist societies in
Scotland and in the United States and devoted the better part of his life to
tireless defense of the interests of the working class” (Marcy).
Bibliography
“America and the Utopian Dream.” Yale, brbl-archive.library.yale.edu/exhibitions/utopia/uc07.html.
American Utopia. Public Broadcasting,
mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/radiowest/files/201605/american_utopianism.jpg. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.
Carmony, Donald F., and Josephine M. Elliott. “New Harmony, Indiana.” Indiana Magazine of History, 1980,
scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/imh/article/view/10250/14211.
“New Harmony.” Robert Owen Museum, robert-owen-museum.org.uk/Robert_Owen_1771_1858/new_harmony.
“New Harmony.” University of Virginia, xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/HNS/Cities/newharmony.html.
New Harmony Communities. Espazium,
www.espazium.ch/uploads/MTQzODc4NzE5MS0zNjc1ODk1MTUwLTI1ODIwLTE4.jpg.
“New Harmony, Indiana.” Town of New Harmony, Indiana, www.newharmony-in.gov/about_new_harmony.php.
“New Harmony, Indiana.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Harmony,_Indiana#Owenite_community_.281825.E2.80.931827.29. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.
Bibliography
New Harmony 1832. Wikimedia,
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Karl_Bodmer_New_Harmony_1832_-_1833.jpg.
New Harmony Sign. Hannah Cantebellum,
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