Robert Owen and New Lanark

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.

• 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