ABSTRACT
Victor Considerant landed in New York on December 14, 1852, and spent the first weeks after his arrival at the North American Phalanx in New Jersey. Considerant envisioned the settlement as a model community which would influence its environment. In September 1854, shortly after the publication of his books, Considerant founded the European Society for the Colonization of Texas, in order to establish a settlement according to the plan he had formulated in his books. In addition to the two groups Considerant agreed to accept hired workers, nonmember residents, and pensioneers. Considerant was surprised by the intensity of the prevalent hostility; he kept his faith in American democracy. Land prices rose drastically, and when Considerant tried to acquire additional land to absorb the newcomers, he was cheated by speculators, and the society's funds were misspent. In 1858 Considerant again attempted to recruit support in France. When Napoleon III relaxed the political restrictions, Considerant was allowed a short visit to France.
