# data[].attributes.body
Scottish Industrialist and philanthropist. Owen founded an experimental community in Indiana in 1825

# data[].attributes.body
Despite the New Harmony community being an economic failure after about two years, the idea of having a place where everyone lived and worked in total equality continued to inspire other Americans to make their own ‘Owenite’ communities for years after.

# data[].attributes.body
Owen believed his utopian community would create a "superior social, intellectual and physical environment" based on his ideals of social reform. Owen was motivated to buy the town in order to prove his theories were viable and to correct the troubles that were affecting his mill-town community New Lanark.

# data[].attributes.body
Under the preliminary constitution, members would provide their own household goods and invest their capital at interest in an enterprise that would promote independence and social equality. Members would render services to the community in exchange for credit at the town's store, but those who did not want to work could purchase credit at the store with cash payments made in advance. In addition, the town would be governed by a committee of four members chosen by Owen and the community would elect three additional members.

# data[].attributes.body
While Owen was away recruiting new residents for New Harmony, a number of factors that led to an early breakup of the socialist community had already begun. Members grumbled about inequity in credits between workers and non-workers. In addition, the town soon became overcrowded, lacked sufficient housing, and was unable to produce enough to become self-sufficient, although they still had "high hopes for the future."Owen spent only a few months at New Harmony, where a shortage of skilled craftsmen and laborers along with inadequate and inexperienced supervision and management contributed to its eventual failure.

# data[].attributes.body
The town of New Harmony was hoped to be a model community where education and social equality would flourish.

# data[].attributes.body
Early feminist activity within New Harmony increased national awareness of the women’s suffrage issue.