The Communist Manifesto

The Communist Manifesto

A political pamphlet written in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It is comprised of Marx and Engels political theory of communism. The manifesto is used to persuade laborers to rise and revolt for the overthrowing of the Bourgeois and the replacement of capitalism with communism. Karl Marx's Argument is that capitalism is an awful economic system as it's class system places the majority in the bottom. The oppressive bourgeoisie have made proletarians slaves/machines. Communism would have to replace capitalism to stop this oppression and make the majority happy and for that to happen the proletariat would need to come together to overthrow the bourgeoisie and take political power. Private property would need to be gotten rid of as well as the modern family system which is based on relationships of the bourgeoisie for capital gain rather than love (also inheritance should be rid of). Abolish nationalism and countries as well. Education would be free for all.

Terms for communism

Abolition of property in land and rents of land Heavy progressive/graduated income tax Abolition of inheritance Confiscation of property of emigrants and rebels Centralization of credit in the banks of the state Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state Extensions of factories and instruments of production owned by the state Equal liability of all to work Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries Free education of all children. Abolition of child labor in it's current form

Bourgeois

Bourgeois are the capitalists/higher class of society who manage factories and production etc. Despite them being the minority, they are the ones that are able to oppress the majority which are the proletarians/working class. They oppress the proletariat by giving them work for low wages while they reap all the profits. They want to expand worldwide and earn even more money while exploiting even more proletarians.

Reactionary Socialism

Has three subsets and all the reactionary socialists fight against the rise of bourgeois and modern Industry, without realizing the historical process the bourgeoisie represent. -Feudal Socialism Feudal socialists were French and English aristocrats who followed socialism with a hateful upstart so a serious political struggle was out of the question. Their biggest complaint about the bourgeois was that it creates a revolutionary proletariat that will uproot the old order of society. Thus, they objected to the bourgeoisie because they were a threat to their way of life. Wanted the proletariat to rally. Feudal socialism was ruined by the bourgeoisie -Petty-Bourgeois Socialism Dissects contradictions of modern production. Aspires to restoring the old means of production and of exchange and with them the old property relations, and the old society. Reactionary and utopian. This form of socialism ended miserably. -German (True) Socialism German philosophers taking up french philosophy that only made sense for France. French social conditions weren't the same as german so it lost practical significance. Bringing the new french ideas together with their ancient philosophical conscience. This form of socialism fueled the gov as a weapon for fighting german bourgeoisie and also was a reactionary interest from german philistines. German nation was the model nation. Opposed brutally destructive tendency of communism

Proletarians

Proletarians are the working class of society who can only live as long as they work. Despite them being the majority, they are the ones that are oppressed since as they work more and more and earn capitalists a huge sum of profits, their wages stay low. They work like machines and slaves instead of working and being proud of their work/creation. When they form unions to protest against the Bourgeois, they just further achieve the bourgeois objectives instead of trying to overthrow them. Marx calls for them to revolt in order to make a system with only one class and that being the proletarians in his ideal communist society.

Conservative, or Bourgeois, Socialism

These type of socialists want all the advantages of modern social conditions without the struggles. This form of socialism wants a society with bourgeoisie without a proletariat. The best society is one where they have power. They want the proletariat to stay weak, but to stop hating the dominant bourgeoisie. A second form of this socialism states that no political reform can be of any advantage to them so revolutionary movements were useless. Doesn't understand the abolition of the bourgeois relations of production. Free trade, protective duties, and prison reform all to benefit the working class

Critical-Utopian Socialism and Communism

Want to improve conditions for all classes. They appeal to society at large without distinguishing class by preference to the ruling class. They reject political and revolutionary action and want to meet goals peacefully. Inverse relation to historical development. Since their ideas represented a utopia they lacked practical significance and became less significant. Originators were revolutionary but disciples have formed mere reactionary sects.