Community structure Icarians

1 community structure

1.1 admissions
1.2 equality
1.3 housing
1.4 work
1.5 religion
1.6 culture
1.7 gender equality

community structure
admissions

a charter created society in 1853 specified residents of nauvoo colony required donate worldly goods community, had include minimum of $60. passed probationary period of 4 months allowed move permanent colony in iowa.

equality

the icarians lived in communal dwellings of dormitories shared central living , dining areas. families lived in 2 equal rooms in apartment building , had same kind of furniture. children raised in communal creche, not own parents. tasks divided among group; 1 might seamstress , never need cook.

housing

when icarians first arrived @ nauvoo on march 15, 1849, purchased number of buildings, grounds, houses, cattle , burned-out mormon temple intended use academy or school.

after purchases , repairs done, nauvoo icarian village consisted of dwelling of individual apartments, 2 schools (one girls , other boys), 2 infirmaries, pharmacy, large community kitchen dining hall, bakery, butchery, , room laundry facilities. thereafter, steam-powered flour mill, distillery, pigsty , sawmill added. local coal mine worked fuel.

work

plaque @ icarian cemetery @ jeune icariens community listing died here 1878 1898; erected state of iowa in 1992.

all work divided gender. men worked tailors, masons, wheelwrights, shoemakers, mechanics, blacksmiths, carpenters, tanners, , butchers. women worked cooks, seamstresses, washerwomen , ironers.

to earn money, icarians established commerce outside world small store outside st. louis. here sold handmade shoes, boots , dresses, , sold items made mills , distillery.

religion

the icarians believed in higher power , had ten-section principle briefly stated thought needed in perfect society.

the religion of choice should have understanding of following:

evil, misfortune
intelligence
causes of evil
god , perfection
destiny of humanity, happiness
sociability
perfectibility
the remedy
god, father of human race

at eighteen years of age, icarians instructed on world religions. marriage in community highly encouraged, insisted upon. divorce allowed; however, members encouraged remarry possible.

cabet s book vrai christianisme (true christianity) read , formed dominant influence on religious thought, though not intended specific instruction on religious observances. in iowa colony, icarians adopted practice of informal religious gathering known cours icariens ( icarian course ) on sunday afternoons. in addition reading vrai christianisme , other books, these gatherings included quiet games , conversation.

culture

culture in icaria second highest priority, second education. community held several concerts , theatrical productions entertainment of members, performing works such salamander , death rats , 6 heads in hat , or fisherman s daughter .

in nauvoo, there library of on 4,000 books, biggest in illinois @ time. community distributed biweekly newspaper titled colonie icarienne.

the important holidays february 3, anniversary of first departure of icarians france, , july 4, summer festival. on july 4, refectory decorated garlands , boughs; cardboard signs declared equality , freedom , , unity , , banners had quotations each; each , each according needs , , first right live; first duty work . raised american flag , played star spangled banner , america . travelled corning watch fourth of july parade, remained apart anglophone americans. @ end of day, returned icaria (three miles east) banquet, dance, , theatrical presentation. icarians celebrated christmas, new year s day, , fete du mais, fall harvest corn festival similar thanksgiving.

gender equality

men , women given equal participation opportunities in weekly community assemblies, voting on admissions, constitutional changes, , election of officer in charge of clothing , lodging.