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 "Owenism", although not in agreement with all of his beliefs, to explore their own views on the subject. William Thompson, who became a champion of women's rights was a supporter of Owen and also Henry Hetherington who fought for, among other things, trade unions. While some did not agree with Owen's ideas, there were numerous individuals who supported Owen's views on social reform and were incited by his outspokenness on such views to explore their own theories. Owen's experiment may not have induced the exact result that he had wished, but it no doubt had a positive effect on a society which might have continued to decline had Owen not stepped up to the plate. In that sense, New Lanark by itself was not a success, but from a sociological perspective, the movement which it provoked most certainly was.

First, it is important to discuss how Owen's theories of social reform were initially received. While it seems that Owen likely would have been seen in a positive light, given his efforts to better a declining society, it is also important to discuss the manner, positive and negative, in which Owen's proposals were initially received. Some viewed Owen as a hypocrite, citing that his theories on education contradict what he explained to be the reason behind his claim to be the only "rational being". During a speech, Owen offered that when laid up with an illness as a child he "Ð'....reflected, and read much, forming his own views, uncontrolled by the lessons of schools."(Times London, Oct. 4 1838, p.5 col A) Also, his anti-religion sentiment was not popular with most people and as a result, his views were often dismissed solely on that basis. While this aspect of Owen's personality often garnered much criticism, there were also many who supported his ideas.

The success of Owen's ideas cannot be defined by his experiment at New Lanark alone, or be accredited solely to Owen. After New Lanark, there were many more similar undertakings by other social reformists who supported Owen's theories. John F. C. Harrison explains in " The Steam Engine of the New Moral World: Owenism and Education 1817-1829" how Owen started a movement which would prompt others to follow his lead. "A strong Scottish element attested the local influence of New Lanark:Archibald James Hamilton of Dalziel, Abram Combe of Edinburgh, and Captain Donald Macdonald. Second, a group of philanthropists(gentleman and businessman)of independent means, such as John Minter Morgan, William Thompson and John Gray, combined Owen's views with their own schemes for social reform. And a third group, led by George Mudie and Henry Hetherington, constituted a working-class response among some London printers".(Harrison) Through these groups of men, Owen's ideas spread throughout the country and even across the ocean to America. It is true that the numerous "New Lanark" style communities established in the years that followed, eventually folded; however, the fight for social reform did not end there.

John Minter Morgan was one of those who strongly supported Owen, despite some conflicts Morgan had with his anti-religious tone and Morgan rationalized his backing of Owen's ideas stating, "If it is the part of a good Christian to decline the cooperation of a competent individual,(because he does not embrace our opinions), in forming political arrangements conducive to the happiness of mankind, and especially such arrangements as admit a perfect freedom of religious worship; then shall we be justified in dismissing Mr. Owen's proposals. But if, on the contrary, by such conduct we not only prolong the sufferings of the wretched, but violate the spirit of that religion which says "Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God, we shall no longer hesitate temperately to examine the details of his plan; and having separated his religious or speculative opinions from that which is of practical utility, we shall avail ourselves of the benefit of knowledge derived from his long experience, without compromising the interests of Christianity". Morgan was able to put aside the parts of Owen's plans that he did not agree with and realize that underneath Owen's, what seemed to many, impractical proposal and realize the practicality in what Owen was trying to accomplish. As a member of the Church of England, Morgan would not likely have risked compromising his Christian faith by supporting Owen if he did not believe strongly in the potential of Owen's goals. Owen's goals were quite lofty, and he was in need of others to take his ideas and refine them.