The Communist Manifesto
This Manifesto was written by Communists who met in London. They wanted to expose to the rest of the world, their opinions, views, etc and to clear up any misconceptions.
Marx starts off the Manifesto by writing "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Basically what he is trying to say is that throughout history, the dominant and the oppressed are constantly at war with each other. Each fight ends with a reconstruction of society and social classes.
In the earlier days of the world’s history, we had feudalism. We had: feudal lords, vassals, guild-masters, journeymen, apprentices and serfs. The modern bourgeois society has branched from the old feudal systems. Antagonisms have simplified as society turns into Bourgeoisie and Proletariat. The formation of the bourgeoisie was sparked by the Age of Exploration. The guilds couldn’t survive in the increasing markets and instead the middle class took control. As markets kept growing, manufacture wasn’t able to go on. “Modern Industry” took over manufacturing and thus the Industrial Revolution. The middle class became replaced by "industrial millionaires," or the bourgeois.
• Who are the bourgeoise? The Proletariat? What is their relationship?
The bourgeoisie are members of the upper or merchant class, whose status or power comes from employment, education, and wealth. The Proletariat is the lower class. These two classes are constantly in conflict.
• How has the bourgeoisie changed in the way it has affected class conflict?
In the past, classes survived by keeping old methods of production. The bourgeoisie is different in that in order for it to exist it needs to constantly revolutionize the methods of production.
• How will the revolution happen? Why is the industrial class their own “grave-diggers”?
Basically, the working class will rise up and overthrow the upper class, the “industrial millionaires.” They are known as...