Radical, however, as they were in thought, they were by no means revolutionary in action.

The several brands of heresy differed too completely one from another to be melted into a single political agitation and programme.
The need for action spent itself in the formation of socialistic communities of the most varied kind, the great majority of which were soon either disbanded or transformed.

But whatever its limitations the ferment was symptomatic of a genuine revolt of the American spirit against the oppressive servitude of the individual intelligence to the social will, demanded by the popular democratic system and tradition.
The revolt, however, with all the sincere enthusiasm it inspired, was condemned to sterility.

It accomplished nothing and could accomplish nothing for society, because it sought by individual or unofficial associated action results which demanded official collective action; and it accomplished little even for the individual, because it was not the outcome of any fruitful individual discipline.

The emancipated idea was usually defined by seeking the opposite of the conventional idea.
Individuality was considered to be a matter of being somehow and anyhow different from other people.