In the 1800s experimental communities were started in order to create a peaceful, perfect society. These were sometimes called Utopian Movements. Most of these communities failed because of certain flaws in their social or economical structure.
One community, Brook Farm in Massechusettes, was considered an "intellectual haven" for transendentalism. It failed after only five years due to the lack of incentive among the people to be productive.
Another utopian experiment was the Shaker community, which was started by Ann Lee in 1774. Although it lasted for about a hundred years after Ann Lee's death in 1784, the Shaker community eventually dwindled away because they did not believe in reproducing. Rather, they believed in living single, joyful religious lives.
Not all of the Utopian movements failed, some still exist today. One of these is the Church if Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was started by Joseph Smith in 1831. This community was more successful, but was eventually relocated outside of the United States to what is now Salt Lake City.
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