The Communist Manifesto

## Basic Info

Authors: Karl Marx and Frederick Engels (both German)

Published: 1849

Original Language: German

* Later published in French, followed by English, Danish, and Polish

## Notes

* Originally drafted as the platform for the Communist League in Germany
* The Cologne Communist trials of 1852 were a heavy blow to Communism in Europe
* After the trials the Communist League became the International Workingman's Association
* Socialist originally referred to proponents and members of utopian community experiments
* Bourgeoise - Ruling class
* Proletariat - Working class
* Prior to a revolution of the Proletariat, a small portion of the ruling Bourgeoise will break off right before the climax of the revolution and side with the Proletariat. In doing this they easily establish themselves as leaders of the new government/society and in the process continue the cycle of Bourgeoise oppression.
* The Industrial Revolution provides to Proletariat an opportunity to rise up, as the great excess in production is ultimately spilling into the hands of the Proletariat, giving them an actual shot to finally topple the Bourgeoise.
* During the Industrial Revolution the Bourgeoise ended up "arming" so to speak, the Proletariat with greater education, training, and wages towards the end, and in doing so armed them to eventually go against their masters.
* Peasants are not considered Proletariat by Marx, but rather a reactionary party in history.
* Revolutions are usually incited by a minority, a Proletarian revolution is one of an immense majority.
* The fall of the Bourgeoise and the victory of the Proletariat are equally inevitable.
* Bourgeoise - past dominates the present
* Communist - present dominates the past
* If everyone receives a minimum wage, all will be equal, and no one individual can subjugate another.
* Marx believes changing an individuals financial or material situation will in effect change quickly their ideals and conception.
* Karl Marx did quite early on recognize the influence and power of globalization.
* The first and immediate goal of the Proletariat when they take over is to centralize all instruments of production and increase total production forces and quickly as possible.
* Jean Charles Leonard de Sismondi - Swiss historian and economist who coined the term proletarian. Known for his works on French and Italian history as well as his advocacy for a progressive tax, sick leave, and many other policies later advocated by socialist. Was among the first to criticize laissaiz-faire economic policy.
* Types of Socialism according to Marx
	+ Feudal Socialist - considered reactionary and ineffective but essentially occurred when the old ruling aristocracy wrote harshly about he bourgeoise and the inevitable nature of a proletariat uprising.
	+ Petty Bourgeois Socialism - also considered reactionary and was heavily advocated by Jean Charles Leonard de Sismondi. Essentially advocated for state welfare, high taxes, and worker protections. However, Marx was critical of this socialism as he saw its proponents was just wanting society to return to its pre-industrial revolution state. Corporate guilds for manufacture; patriarchal relations in agriculture. Primarily originated in France during the revolution.
	+ German or "True" Socialism - reactionary socialism that arose when French Socialist literature made its way into Germany. Germany was much different than France, so the application of French socialism on German socio-economic conditions created some confusion, and essentially German Socialist ended up advocating the aims of the petty bourgeois as well as German nationalism. Marx very much despised this type of socialism.
	+ Conservative or Bourgeois Socialism - essentially advocate for social reform and improvements in how the government treats the proletariat, but is more or less utterly against any kind of revolution. Seeks to soothe relations between the bourgeoise and proletariat and believes that anyone can become Bourgeois.
	+ Critical-Utopian Socialism and Communism - attempt to make society a better place for all, both proletariat and bourgeoise, without political or revolutionary action. Seen as much to peaceful by Marx and unable/unwilling to achieve real change in society. Marx admires many of their principals such as the abolition of private property, traditional family ties (free love and such), and a blend of town and country, but as mentioned above sees them as ineffective in advocating for the proletariat. Also criticizes their tendency to become very conservative and resistant to change once they find a system or philosophy they support.
* Marx saw that an industrial revolution, and the accompanying bourgeoise oppression, was necessary before Communism could be introduced to a country. Only through the greater power given to the proletariat by the excess production give them the means of revolution.
* Marx saw the country most likely to turn to Socialism to be Germany, as it was on the eve of a Bourgeoise revolution at the time of his writing, and that this Bourgeoise revolution could immediately be followed by a Proletariat revolution.

## Quotes

* Communism was "to do for history what Darwin's theory did for biology."
* "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles."
* "The cheap prices of its commodities are the heavy artillery with which it batters down all Chinese walls."
* "Those laborers, who must sell themselves piecemeal. are a commodity, like every other article of commerce."
* In a communist society "They have nothing of their own to secure and to fortify; their mission is to destroy all previous securities for, and insurances of, individual property."
* "The theory of the communist may be summed up in the single sentence. Abolition of private property."
* "Abolition of the family! Abolition of all countries and nationality! Abolition of all religion!"
* "Of course, in the beginning, this cannot be effected except by means of despotic inroads."
* Some of Communism's main goals
	+ Combination of agriculture and manufacturing, and the gradual abolition of distinctions between town and country.
	+ Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
	+ Heavy progressive or gradual income tax.
	+ Free education, abolition of child factory labor and slavery.
	+ Combination of education with industrial production.
* "The medieval burgesses and the small peasant proprietors were the precursors of the modern bourgeoise."
* "In short, the Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things."
* "The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forceful overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution, the Proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all countries, unite!"