Overview
What happens when idealistic communities try to share everything equally? Can the “warmth of collectivism” deliver on its promises? John Stossel and Yaron Brook examine collectivist experiments in America and Israel, from New Harmony, Indiana to Israeli kibbutzim and hippie communes like The Farm. Students uncover a clear pattern: communities that endured did so by abandoning collectivism and embracing private property, with some evolving into major brands such as Oneida and Maytag. The lesson explores why collectivist systems struggle and what history reveals about incentives, human nature, and prosperity.

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Lesson Insights

Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Government and Economics
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify the core principles of collectivism, socialism, and communism as reflected by historical communes;
• explain why historical communes in America and Israel failed to sustain themselves without adopting private property;
• analyze how the language of "rugged individualism" versus the "warmth of collectivism" is used to influence emotions and persuade audiences; and
• evaluate the relationship between economic incentives, human behavior, and community sustainability using historical evidence.

Key concepts and terms covered
Capitalism, Collectivism, Commune, Communism, Incentive, Kibbutz, Private Property, Socialism, Utopia, and Utopian Socialism.

Sample discussion questions
• What is a commune, and how does its organization differ from a typical neighborhood or business?
• The mayor in the video promises to replace the "frigidity of rugged individualism" with the "warmth of collectivism." Why might this language be persuasive? What emotions does each phrase try to evoke?
• New Harmony is now a tourist attraction celebrating the "magic" of a commune. According to the video, where did the money come from to preserve it? What is ironic about this?
• Supporters of collectivism often argue that past failures were “poorly executed.” How many failures should it take before execution is no longer a credible explanation? Explain your reasoning.
• If collectivism truly produced prosperity, why would former collectivists voluntarily abandon it when given the choice?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 22-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, classroom activities, and the full video transcript.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.