Marx’sTheory

Communist Manifesto – written in 1849 by Marx and Engels

            -Written in response to the horrendous conditions in factories

-Blamed the system of industrial capitalism for the terrible conditions.

-Solution to problem was a new social system- eventually known as communism

                        Marx’s beliefs

                                    -All of history was a “history of class struggles”

                                    -Oppressors vs. oppressed is a constant throughout history

-Oppressors own means to production (land, raw materials and money)

            -Controlled government and society

-Oppressed- dependent on the owners of the means of production

-“Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into tow great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat”.

-Bourgeoisie- the middle/upper class- also known as the oppressors

                        -Proletariat-working class –also known as the oppressed.

-Struggle between proletariat and Bourgeoisie will eventually lead to a revolution.

            -Proletariat would overthrow bourgeoisie

-Abolish economic differences that create separate social classes

-End up with a classless society