Childcare, education, working conditions, healthcare, crime: these issues are hotly debated in today's society. They are also issues that Robert Owen, seen by some as a visionary and by others as a knave and a charlatan, sought to address in the early 1800s. This free course, Robert Owen and New Lanark, uses a series of essays written by Owen to explore the ideas of this important and controversial figure.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 A New View of Society
- 1 A New View of Society
- 2 Progress and the economy
- 2 Progress and the economy
- 2.1 The cotton industry
- 2.2 David Dale and New Lanark 1785–1800
- 3 Politics: Radicalism and reaction
- 3 Politics: Radicalism and reaction
- 4 The making of a social reformer
- 4 The making of a social reformer
- 4.1 Environment and education: Wales 1771–c.1782
- 4.2 Apprenticeship in retailing c.1782–c.1789
- 4.3 Business and enlightenment: Manchester 1789–99
- 4.4 Manchester Literary & Philosophical Society and Board of Health
- 4.5 Owen at New Lanark 1800–c.1812
- 4.6 New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde
- 5 The background to the essays
- 5 The background to the essays
- 5.1 The essays in context
- 5.2 Owen in London 1812–14
- 5.3 Further enlightened influences: Godwin, Place and Mill
- 6 The essays
- 6 The essays
- 6.1 Overview
- 6.2 The dedications
- 6.3 First Essay
- 6.4 Second Essay
- 6.5 Third Essay
- 6.6 Fourth Essay
- 7 New Lanark as showpiece and text
- 7 New Lanark as showpiece and text
- 8 Impact of the essays
- 8 Impact of the essays
- 9 The factory reform movement
- 9 The factory reform movement
- 10 Working-class distress and planned communities
- 10 Working-class distress and planned communities
- 11 Conclusion
- 11 Conclusion
- Glossary
- References
- Further reading
- Acknowledgements
