- Financial mismanagement: Owen invested heavily in unnecessary machinery and equipment, leading to financial difficulties. He also failed to effectively manage the community's finances, resulting in debt.
- Lack of commitment: Many individuals in the community lacked a genuine commitment to the utopian ideals and were not prepared for the challenges of communal living. As a result, there was tension and conflict within the community.
- Disagreements over leadership and decision-making: Owen exercised a strict leadership style, which led to disagreements and power struggles among community members. This caused divisions within the community and undermined Owen's authority.
- External influences: New Harmony was affected by external factors such as the financial panic of 1819 and an economic downturn, which made it difficult for the community to sustain itself financially.
- Unrealistic expectations: Owen had high expectations for the success of his experiment and envisioned a rapid transformation of society. However, the challenges of communal living proved to be more complex than anticipated, and Owen's ideals were too ambitious to achieve in the short term.