Quiz: A New View of Society

All 30 questions. A perfect score earns the gold medal; 80% earns silver.

1. 1. Who founded the New Lanark mills, and when, according to Owen?

   The Edinburgh charities, in 1790 Richard Arkwright, in 1771 Robert Owen himself, in 1800 David Dale of Glasgow, in 1784
2. 2. How large does Owen say the poor and working classes of Great Britain and Ireland are?

   About two million, a tenth of the population About five million, a third of the population Over thirty million, almost the whole population of the islands Over fifteen million, nearly three-fourths of the people
3. 3. To what single principle of action does Owen say all motives for good conduct will be reduced?

   Love of one’s own country above all others, taught as the first of the virtues The happiness of self, clearly understood, which promotes the community’s Obedience to the laws of the State, enforced by a vigilant and impartial magistracy Fear of punishment in this life and the next, impressed on children from infancy
4. 4. How does Owen characterise the law creating the State lottery?

   A useful way to fund schools for the children of the poor A harmless voluntary tax on the rich A law to legalize gambling and rob the ignorant A necessary wartime measure to be kept until peace
5. 5. What is each child told on entering the playground of the New Institution?

   To harm no playfellow, but make them happy Always to obey the superintendent without question or delay To keep silent until the master speaks to him To learn the whole catechism before he may play
6. 6. Which educators does Owen credit with preparing the way by showing the effects of even limited education?

   Dr. Bell and Joseph Lancaster Pestalozzi and Fellenberg in Switzerland Bentham and James Mill Rousseau and Locke
7. 7. What does Owen say about a man’s will and his opinions?

   The will governs opinions once a man reaches adulthood The will freely chooses its opinions and is answerable for them Opinions are formed by divine grace acting on the will The will has no power over opinions, which are impressed on him
8. 8. Which is the last of the four objects Owen gives for the Institution?

   The training of teachers for Scotland The gradual improvement of every nation in the world The improvement of the neighbourhood around New Lanark Higher profits for the partners
9. 9. How should the wages for Owen’s national public works be set?

   By the parish overseers, case by case, as need arose Above private rates, so as to raise wages generally At the same rate as private labour Somewhat below the average private rate
10. 10. What return does Owen claim his spending on the “living machinery” at New Lanark is producing?

    About five per cent Ten to fifteen per cent None; he accepts it as a loss for charity’s sake Over fifty per cent, and soon a hundred
11. 11. According to the Fourth Essay, what is the end of government?

    To protect property and enforce contracts between men To make the governed and the governors happy To uphold true religion and morals To defend the realm and keep the peace at home and abroad
12. 12. Why does Owen say the full new system will not be introduced at New Lanark?

    Scottish law did not allow such communities The partners had forbidden it The village was too small The works were too far advanced on the old system
13. 13. What is Owen’s main criticism of the Bell and Lancaster systems?

    They improve the manner of teaching, not its matter They are too expensive for poor parishes They teach children to read but not to write or cipher They give too much power to the State
14. 14. Before what age will no child be allowed to work in the New Lanark mills?

    Fourteen Eight Six Ten
15. 15. Which of these is one of the false “first principles” on which, according to Owen, society has been founded?

    That children learn best through play That labour is the source of all wealth That nations should live at peace with one another That the affections are at the individual’s command
16. 16. Where does Owen say wickedness and misery have come from?

    Solely from the ignorance of our forefathers From the growth of manufacturing From idleness and the poor rates From the fall of man and the original sin of Adam
17. 17. How does Owen ask the villagers to regard him?

    As a prophet of the new age As a cotton spinner going about his work As their lawful master As their father and protector in all things
18. 18. What does Owen tell the Prince Regent the essays offer?

    A Plan of Government founded on a preventive system A constitution based on universal suffrage and annual parliaments A plan to replace the monarchy with a federal republic A scheme for financing the war with France
19. 19. What does Owen name as the best source of public employment?

    Manufacturing cloth for the army Making and repairing roads Draining fens for farming Building workhouses
20. 20. Which of these is not among the laws Owen says train the population to crime?

    The State lottery The Combination Acts against trade unions The laws for providing for the poor The licensing of gin-shops and pot-houses
21. 21. Under the new management, until what age were parents advised to keep their children out of the mills?

    Six Fourteen Eight Ten
22. 22. According to the principle of the First Essay, what can be given to any community by the application of proper means?

    Freedom from all need of labour Identical natural talents in every person and class Any general character, from the best to the worst An equal share of the national wealth and its produce
23. 23. In the address to superintendents of manufactories, what does Owen urge them to care for as carefully as their machinery?

    Their foreign customers Their workers, the “vital machines” Their stocks of raw cotton Their engines and water-wheels
24. 24. Whose plans for the education of the poor does Owen examine and find wanting?

    Bentham, Mill and Brougham Hannah More, Mrs. Trimmer and William Wilberforce Pestalozzi, Fellenberg and Jean-Jacques Rousseau Dr. Bell, Joseph Lancaster and Mr. Whitbread
25. 25. What does Owen propose to wean the poor from dram-drinking?

    Pay workers partly in beer Raise duties on spirits and lower those on beer Close every public house at once Prohibit the sale of all spirits and fermented liquors
26. 26. What does Owen say would have happened if the present Judges had been born among the poor of St. Giles’s?

    They would have become clergymen They would probably have suffered prison, transportation or death They would still have risen to the bench by their talents and industry They would have emigrated to America
27. 27. To whom was the First Essay originally dedicated?

    Sir Robert Peel, the elder Jeremy Bentham William Wilberforce The Archbishop of Canterbury
28. 28. Which activities does Owen promise the children for their health and spirits?

    Gardening in plots beside the schoolhouse Field work in summer on the company’s farms Dancing, and military drill for boys Competitive examinations with prizes and medals
29. 29. Under Dale, what hours did the pauper apprentices work in the mills?

    Mornings only, with school in the afternoon From six till seven, summer and winter Nights only, so that they could attend school by day From eight till five, with Saturdays free
30. 30. What military training does Owen plan for the boys of New Lanark?

    Naval training on ships at Greenock Enlistment in the regular army at the age of fourteen Drill, and later firearms suited to their age None, since war will be useless among rational beings