Robert Owen's Experiment at New Lanark

Alex Lorrain-Hill

HUMA 3300

04/19/06

Revised Final Draft

Robert Owen's Experiment at New Lanark

To determine whether or not Owen's undertaking at New Lanark was successful we must first understand its' purpose as well as its' practicality and what results might qualify his experiment as being a success. Stemming from Owen's view of the problems which plagued England's economy and manufacturing industry, his ultimate goal was to create a model of a self-supporting community which could eventually be used to establish others like it all over the world. Owen believed it would be most efficient and prosperous for all people to conform to the same rules, thus creating a social equality among the labouring classes, which he believed would help eliminate the poverty and social distress that plagued England in the nineteenth century following the French Revolution. Not everyone was accepting of Owen's plans for social reform but others like John Minter Morgan supported Owen's ideas despite the fact that his anti-religious views conflicted with Morgan's Christian values. The experiment at New Lanark prompted other communities based on Owen's views to be established such as the "Edinburgh Practical Society" formed by Owenite Abram Combe, the "Orbiston Community" also formed by Combe and New Harmony in America which Owen himself established.("The Steam Engine of the New Moral World": Owenism and Education, Harrison,1817-1829) Unfortunately such communities eventually failed. It could be said that in the short term Owen's experiment at New Lanark and others that followed were unsuccessful; however, "Owenism" did have more of a long term impact on society. Owen was successful in breaking ground for child labor laws, trade unionism, and the eventual improvement of manufacturing and economic conditions. Owen's views on social reform prompted others who practiced