TITLE: SOCIALISM IN TEXAS

JUNE 1855 AND SOCIALISM COMES TO TEXAS.

JUNE 16, 1855. DALLAS. WITH DREAMS OF ESTABLISHING OUTPOSTS ACROSS TEXAS, 200 FRENCH SETTLERS ARRIVE JUST WEST OF THE TRINITY. THEIR NEW COLONY, LA REUNION, IS MEANT TO BE A UTOPIAN FARMING CO-OP BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF FRENCH SOCIALIST FRANCIS FOURIER. WHATEVER THEY EARN THEY SHARE. BUT SOON, THINGS GO WRONG. A BLIZZARD WIPES OUT CROPS AND CAUSES FINANCIAL RUIN. GRASSHOPPERS, DROUGHT AND POOR FARMING SKILLS PLAGUE THE SETTLEMENT. BY 1858 THE COLONY IS GONE. TODAY, REUNION ARENA AND TOWER PAY HOMAGE TO THE FAILED EXPERIMENT. FRENCH SOCIALISTS ARRIVED 154 YEARS AGO, THIS WEEK IN TEXAS HISTORY.

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