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Zach Shifflett
2015
Religious Utopias
1820-1860
Leaders
Religious Utopias had many different leaders in between the different groups. George Rapp was the earliest leader who led 600 followers to Western Pennslyvania in 1804. Charles Fourier, a French reformer and philosopher, set out the goal of social harmony through voluntary "phalanaxes" that would be free of government interference and ultimately arise, unite, and become a perfect society. Other leaders will be mentioned in later text about the foundations of the Utopias. The Oneida founder was John Humphrey Noyes. The Mormon leader was Joseph Smith. The Shakers leader was Mother Ann Lee.
Goals
Utopian communities in 19th century America were considered by many to create a new age in human civilization. Often led by charismatic leaders with high religious or secular moral ideals.As 19th century America grew larger, richer, and more diverse, it was also trying to achieve a culture that was distinct and not imitative if any in Europe. At the same time, individuals created debate clubs and other ways to share interesting ideas. They wanted to escape sin and have perfection through faith. Utopia is a term used in the 19th century and an imaginary place where everyone and everything in perfect. Most Utopias were created for religous purposes. Gradually, Utopian communities came to reflect social perfectibility rather than religious purity. It was also created for economic and political equality.
Arguments
Many people who were members of the Utopias thought they were doing the right thing when they would join these groupsbecause they thought it was time for a change, and people needed to see that we are all created equal, men and women. The main point in the arguement was that why should women and men be different and one rule over the other. They wanted to seperate themselves from the world and follow their own path in to thinking what is right. I'm sure many people in America thought that they were crazy and that tradition is the best way.
COPPERS
Citizen Participation is present due to the fact that the citizens are what make up the whole idea of Religious Utopia. Equality of the peoples is also present during this time period where all these members and their groups wanted everyone to be equal and not judging or having a higher power.Self- improvement is trying to make a world a better place and I think they were trying to do that but with their own stradegy. Opportunity: the Mormons spread all over the US and spread their news. Responsibility: They had duties as to what they could and couldn't do.
Success
The Act of Religious Utopias created a lot of foundations such as the Brook Farm, Fruitlands, and New Harmony. The Brook Farm brought members together to farm together as a society. Kind of like a bonding exercise. The idea was that this would give settlers more time to pursue their own literary and scientific interests. The Fruitlands was a farm without farmers. Settlers were forbidden to eat meat, use any form of animal labor or drink anything besides water. They believed animals and nature were just as important as them. New Harmony allowed members to pursure in studies and get an education.
Failures
Everyone has their failures but Religious Utopias didn't fail often although they wanted everyone to join them in equality but they just went their own way. They were often thrown out of society which is considered a failure.
Shakers
Leader: "Mother" Ann Lee
Goals: To break away from tradition and "shake" away from sin. Sexual Equality
Success: There are still Shakers in our society today.
Failures: They had to choose their religion not born into it
Overall?: Yes because they are here today
Oneida
Leader: John Humphrey Noyes
Goals: Escape sin and attain perfection through faith
Success: Silver Spoon industry was pretty successful
Failures: They were ignored by most of society and were outcast
Overall?: No because their leader ran away to Canada and left them
Mormons
Leader: Joseph Smith
Goals: To become mebers of the church of Christ and the Latter Day Saints
Success: They were economically and socially powerful.
Failures: Their leader was imprisoned for almost destroying the printing press and was later killed.
Overall?: Yes because they are still here today
Bibliography
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History of American Socialisms, Philadelphia, 1870, pp. 623-637. December 2, 2015
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Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 6.1. : McGraw-Hill Companies, 2010. Print. Visions of Utopia, The Mormons, pp292-295. December 2, 2015
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Utopian Movement. United States History. December 2, 2015. http://tdl.org/txlor-dspace/bitstream/handle/2249.3/685/13_utopian_move.htm?sequence=13
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"utopia". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Dec. 2015. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/utopia>.
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elizabethdunn. History.com. 2015. 5 19th-Century Utopian Communities in the United States. http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/5-19th-century-utopian-communities-in-the-united-states. December 02, 2015
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ushistory.org. Experiments with Utopia. US HistoryOnline Textbook. http://www.ushistory.org/us/26b.asp. December 2, 2015