Fourierism in 1840's America

Albert Brisbane's Association Model

Abstract

The ideas of Charles Fourier were imported into 1840's America by Albert Brisbane. Fourier's ideas, some of which seemed eccentric and extravagant to Brisbane, were abridged and adapted to the context of American society. Brisbane claimed that the building of a new community “Association” would be the best solution to all social problems of that time. In his plan, about 1800 people would live together cooperatively in a labor system called “attractive industry” which promised high productivity. An “Association” would be a community in which each member would hold stock certificates as personal property.
In the Jacksonian era, chartered business corporations were attacked for their privileges. However, in the course of deliberating the general incorporation act some economists including Henry Carey, argued in their favor. They thought that business corporations supported by small shareholders would provide an oppotunity for poor people to become independent and reasonably wealthy.
Brisbane argued that his Association was based on the operating style of current business corporations. In addition, he pointed out that this shared property system would harmonize diverse interests of members, interests which had up until then been the source of ruinous conflicts.
Brisbane presented his Associaton, which was based on a joint stock property system originally found in the business world, as the best means of social reform.