NEW HARMONY

An Experimental, Cooperative Community

A Documentary Source Problem

The 1820s were a crucial period in our history. Much of the foundation of our modern industrial society was laid during this time. It was an era of optimism and prosperity, but also of social tensions and anxieties. The economy expanded dramatically. Canals, steamboats and new roads helped travelers, shippers, investors and farmers. They linked the East with the South and Midwest, where land speculation became a booming business and where farmers were starting to commercialize, specializing in cash crops for sale to consumers. Hundreds of factories and banks sprang up in this decade of "progress". The spirit of private enterprise spread to every class and region in the nation. Americans were on the make.

With that spirit arose a new belief in individualism, that each person stood alone, in control of their destiny, owing nothing to anyone else. The idea was that "anyone could succeed if they worked hard enough". Competition tended to drive out cooperation. Also, by 1830 nearly every white man could vote, and this expansion of democracy strengthened the idea of individualism. Professional politicians and wealthy men still dominated the government, but the ordinary person was suspicious of them in this "age of the common man".

These rapid changes of the 1820s unsettled Americans and pushed many of them toward active, vibrant churches, like the Methodists and Baptists. Missionaries from eastern Protestant churches went to rural areas in the Midwest and South to preach and convert people to their understandings of Christianity. Camp meetings and revivals, often organized by traveling ministers, became frequent and popular. This religious enthusiasm was democratic, promising salvation to all believers regardless of their sex, social class, or background. By 1860 the Methodists and Baptists outnumbered the more traditional Congregationalists and Episcopalians for the first time.

This was the environment that Robert Owen entered when he arrived in the U.S. in 1824. A wealthy Scottish industrialist, Owen was influenced by the social theories of English Utilitarian philosophers: he believed that improving people's environment would improve their character. He had succeeded in creating a factory town in Scotland with good, sanitary housing, free education for all, restrictions on child labor to children over 10 years old, a wide variety of entertainment and recreation for the villager-employees, and a town store selling quality goods at low prices. Owen thought a new and growing nation like the U.S. was the ideal place to establish his new social system.

Using the following documents about Owen's cooperative community at New Harmony, Indiana, construct your own balanced history of the town. Try to avoid bias in weighing the evidence, but do develop some solid conclusions about this social experiment. Make your historical narrative accurate, logical and clear; tell the reader what happened and why. Be selective -- some documents are more reliable than others! Use the following questions to bring the issues into focus:

1. What do we learn from the development of New Harmony? What were the broader meanings of this community experiment in early 19th century America?

2. What were some of the first problems facing the Harmonites? How well were Owen's theories able to cope with these difficulties?

3. How selective was Owen in choosing members of the community? How valid were complaints about his selection of members?

4. Were Mr. and Mrs. Pears' criticisms based on a fair judgment of the circumstances?

5. Did Owen's position on marriage and religion help or hurt the community?

6. Many Harmonites were very enthusiastic about "the true spirit of democracy and tolerance" that existed in the community. Were these people deluding themselves?

7. Some critics of New Harmony blamed the difficulties on poor organization and management. How valid is this criticism?

DOCUMENT #1

From Robert Owen's Discourses on a New System of Society, Feb. and March, 1825.

"The great object...of every age and country was, or ought to be, to secure happiness for the greatest number of human beings...First, by a proper training and education, from birth...Second, by a full supply of those things which are necessary and the most beneficial for human nature; and third, that all individuals should be united in a social system, as to give each the greatest benefit of society...

"In the new system, union and cooperation will supersede individual interest...the powers of one man will obtain for him the advantages of the many, and all will become as rich as they desire...

"The new combinations proposed will be associations of [people] possessing real religious and mental liberty...

"A few hours daily of healthy and desirable employment, chiefly applied to direct modern mechanical and other scientific improvements, will be...sufficient to create a full supply at all times of the best of everything for everyone...and nothing will be wasted or abused.

"[The new system will be founded on] a principle which deprecates all war and violence, and punishment of every kind; which harmonizes every feeling and faculty of the human mind, rendering it rational and humane, and uniting all in one bond of interest and affection...

"The old system keeps its [people] in ignorance, makes them...the perpetual slaves of...the most inferior and worst circumstances, and in consequence, society is a chaos of superstition, passion, prejudice, poverty...and ignorance of their real interest..."

From Karl Bernhard's Travels Through North America, 1828.

"[Mr. Owen] purchased New Harmony...and commenced his establishment in...May [1825]. As he laid the foundation of it entirely on perfect equality and community of property, many enthusiasts in these principles joined themselves to him; and also a number of vagabonds and lazy, worthless persons, from all parts of the world..."

From a letter by William Maclure, a wealthy, well-educated Scotsman and active reformer, to a friend, July 1825.

"I have always had [a favorable opinion] of the immense benefit...to humanity by putting [Owen's] plan into practice...But [the people] he has to work [with] are stubborn, crooked...

"[Making] money has been the only object of most I have met since I landed [in this country]."

From a letter by William Pelham to his son, Sept. 1825.

(Ed. note: Pelham was a well-educated, well-traveled surgeon during and after the American Revolution who came to New Harmony in 1825.)

"This society has certainly commenced under the most unfavorable circumstances...Everyone expresses the utmost confidence in the integrity, wisdom and benevolence of Mr. Owen...The present Committee is composed of men of first-rate ability -- but they cannot perform impossibilities -- they cannot in a day or month change long-established habits and prejudices..[but] three months have already produced much more harmony of mind and unity of action than any other system is capable of producing..."

William Pelham to his son, March 1826.

"Mr. Owen is [untiring] in his efforts to introduce economy, frugality, industry, equality, and other practices essential to the success of his principles. In the meantime I do not doubt that you...hear the most unfavorable accounts of this place; but you need not fear a dissolution of this Society for it cannot happen. Various modifications have been, and probably will be made, without touching the foundation, which stands on a rock, not to be shaken..."

From a letter about the living groups in New Harmony, by Thomas Pears to a friend, March 1826.

(Ed. note: Thomas and Sarah Pears came to New Harmony with their seven children in May 1825. Mr. Pears had been a struggling small businessman in Pennsylvania.)

"[New Harmony] Community No. 2 branched out either on account of religion or of interest...Community No. 3 took our best farmers and our best land, and I think they went because they had no confidence in the System, or because they thought they could do better. No. 4 intended to get possession of the town of New Harmony, and to make all those who could not go away [into] hewers of wood and drawers of water for them. They failed and were obliged to come again into No. 1...All is uncertainty...No. 1 has not enough land to farm to produce the articles necessary for life...Nos. 2 and 3 [have] obtained possession of all the valuable parts of the New Harmony farm...

DOCUMENT #7

Sarah Pears to a friend, March 1826.

"Instead of four or five hours labor being sufficient for one's maintenance, as people were led to believe by Mr. Owen...the bell is now rung at half past five to get up; at six to go to work; at seven for breakfast; at eight for work again; at twelve for dinner; at one to go to work; at six in the evening to return home. If those who are regularly employed are not punctual, they are liable to be reported at the nightly meeting of the intendants. If they are sick they must have a certificate from the physician. If this is not slavery I know not what it is; I absolutely begin to feel myself a complete slave."

From a letter by Wm. Pelham to his son, Sept. 1825.

"...I have become a Harmonite and intend to spend the remainder of my days in this abode of peace and quietness. I did not expect to find everything regular, systematic, convenient -- nor have I found them so. I did expect to find myself relieved from a most disagreeable state of life...and this expectation has been realized -- I am at length free -- my body is at my own command, and I enjoy mental liberty, after having long been deprived of it. I can speak my sentiments without fear of bad consequences, and others do the same -- here are no political or religious quarrels, though there is a great diversity of opinion...Each one says what he [or she] thinks, and mutual respect for the sentiments of each other seems to pervade all our [conversation]. Mr. Jennings is our preacher, and I hear him with...satisfaction. The Methodists likewise have a preacher among them..."

Sarah Pears to her uncle, Jan. 1826

"Oh, if you could see some of the rough uncouth creatures here, I think you would find it rather hard to look upon them in the light of brothers and sisters...I'm sure I cannot in sincerity look upon these as my equals...

"From what Mr. Owen says, he certainly rejects the Scriptures, and to me his system, or rather his opinions, stand so perfectly opposed to them that I cannot see how a Christian can be a perfect Owenite."

From Karl Bernhard's Travels.

"We collected together in the house No. 2...where all the young ladies and gentlemen of quality assembled. Inspite of the equality so much recommended, this class of persons will not mix with the common sort, and I believe all the well- brought up members are disgusted, and will soon abandon the society [New Harmony].

"In the evening we went to the kitchen of No. 3 where there was a ball. The young ladies of the better class kept themselves in a corner...and formed a little aristocratic club...Our young ladies turned up their noses...at the democratic dancers..."

From Robert Owen's speech, A Declaration of Mental Independence at New Harmony, July 4, 1826 (note the date).

"I now declare...to the world that Man[kind] up to this hour, has been, in all parts of the earth, a slave to a Trinity of the most monstrous evils...to inflict mental and physical evil upon [our] whole race.

"I refer to Private, or Individual Property, Absurd and Irrational Systems of Religion, and Marriage, founded on Individual Property...all religions have proved themselves to be superstitions, by destroying the judgment [and] all the mental faculties of [mankind] and made [them] the most abject slaves...

"The forms and ceremonies of Marriage...were contrived and forced upon the people at the same time that property was first divided among a few leading individuals and Superstition was invented: This being the only device that could...permit them to retain their division of the public spoils, and create to themselves an aristocracy of wealth. of power and of learning...Among the truly intelligent, Marriage will be respected only when it shall be formed between those who are equal in wealth, education and condition...Marriage, to make it virtuous and happy...must be contracted by both parties, solely with a view to their happiness..."

From Maclure to a friend, Aug. 1826.

"I did not conjecture that Mr. O[wen] was quite so amorous as the stories make him. The wives of [most] of those who have left...lately have declared to their husbands that it was in consequence of the freedom that Mr. O. took with them that they could not think of remaining under such dreadful risk of their virtue."

DOCUMENT #13

From Twenty-Seven Years of Autobiography: Threading My Way, by Robert Dale Owen (Robert Owen's eldest son), 1874.

"On the whole, my life in Harmony for many months was happy and satisfying. To this the free and simple relation there existing between youth and maiden [young men and women] much contributed. We called each other by our Christian names only, spoke and acted as brothers and sisters might; often strolled out by moonlight in groups, sometimes in single pairs; yet no scandal or other harm came of it."

Sarah Pears to her aunt, March 1826.

"...all our elder children, those whom we expect to be...support in our old age, are to be taken away from us, at an age, too, when they so...require the guardian care of their parents; and are to be placed in large boarding houses. The single males and females above the age of fourteen are to live together in one house, over which there is to be one married woman to superintend.

"Can you, my dear Aunt, conceive of anything so absurd and cruel as breaking up and dividing families...?

"When my children leave...I cannot tell them to do anything. They will be completely taken from under my control. As to the schools, the manner in which they have been conducted is really shameful. The boys have learnt nothing. I have heard that the girls have learnt a little geography and a little sewing, but plenty of bad language, disobedience and contempt for their teachers they have certainly learnt."

Maclure to a friend, Aug. 1826.

"O.'s sermon on education, as far as I understand it...[is] the greatest mixture of contradictions I have ever read. But he's incorrigible, and we must get out of the alliance as well as we can, and on no account make it appear that we differ from him in any material matter...for he is certainly mad, talks as if he had the world in his pocket...

"I only have for the last six months totally changed my opinion of Mr.Owen's capability to succeed in any undertaking on the high visionary ideas...engendered in his brain;...however willing I might be to spend my money on my own educational visions, I am positively determined to waste none of it on the visions of others..."

From a letter from Lydia Eveleth to Mrs. Pears, March 1827.

(Ed. note: The Eveleth family were close friends of the Pearses and remained in New Harmony after the Pearses had moved to Pittsburgh.)

"[We are witnessing] the downfall of this Mighty Community, and its once highly celebrated founder, who has now become the abhorrence of this people...

"Indeed, so much is he out of favor here that I do not believe there is one who would even listen patiently to anything he may have to say on his much loved System and Community..."

From Robert Dale Owen's Autobiography.

"[After March 1827] the inhabitants had either to support themselves or to leave the town. But my father offered land on the Harmony estate to those who desired to try smaller community experiments, on an agricultural basis. Several were formed, some by honest, industrious workers, to whom the land was leased at very low rates; while other leases were obtained by unprincipled speculators who cared not a whit for cooperative principles, but sought private gain by the operation. All finally failed as social experiments."

From the New Harmony Gazette, March, 1827. William and Robert Dale Owen, sons of Robert Owen, wrote the article.

"Our opinion is that Robert Owen ascribed too little influence to the early anti-social circumstances that had surrounded many of the quickly-collected inhabitants of New Harmony before their arrival there...Robert Owen [pursued his dream] with great perseverance and at great [financial] loss to himself. One form of government was first adopted, and when that appeared unsuitable another was tried; until it appeared that the members were too various in their feelings and too dissimilar in their habits to govern themselves harmoniously as one community..."

From Robert Dale Owen's Autobiography.

"I do not believe that any industrial experiment can succeed which proposes equal [pay] to all men...a plan which remunerates all alike will, in the present condition of society, ultimately eliminate from a cooperative association the skilled, efficient, and industrious members, leaving an ineffective and sluggish residue, in whose hands the experiment will fail, both socially and [financially]."