Final answer:
Oneida's financial success can largely be attributed to its industrial achievements in the manufacture of steel animal traps and silverware, which provided stability and profits to the community after its communal practices ended.
Step-by-step explanation:
While the Oneida Community, established by John Humphrey Noyes, was initially known for its radical social practices like perfectionism and complex marriages, the community achieved financial stability and success through industrial enterprise. After the communal living aspects of the community dissolved, the Oneida Community Limited continued as a joint-stock company, capitalizing on the industrializing economy of the time.
With a reputation for high-quality products, the business thrived, particularly with the production of steel animal traps and later, silverware, becoming one of the most well-known silverware companies in the United States. This success showcases how American experimental communities, despite originating from diverse ideologies, often turned to industrial production as a key strategy for economic prosperity.