1848–1894

Karl Marx, the “Communist Manifesto” (1848) and “Capital”

Shelley: Karl Marx (1818–1883), raised in a family of German Jews who had converted to Christianity, appeared in 1848 with a new form of socialism and a criticism of Christianity as a tool of the rich for oppressing the poor. The “Communist Manifesto” (January 1848, with Engels) contained almost all the elements of “scientific” socialism, and “Capital” (1867–1894) is one of the most influential books of the modern age: in the twentieth century almost half the world lived under governments based on Marxism

Key points

• Shelley: Marx held that Christianity contradicts itself and, like religion generally, sides with the rich oppressors; preaching urges the poor to bear injustice for a heavenly reward and distracts them with lofty ideas. Present circumstances result from class conflict; it was time for the poor to rise and change history by force
• Marx’s life: born in Trier, took a doctorate after studying Hegel, failed to win a university post and lived by journalism; in Paris he turned to socialism.
• Marx’s life: lifelong friendship with Engels (1820–1895), a rich manufacturer’s son; expelled from France in 1845, they moved to Brussels.
• Marx’s life: he spent the rest of his days in London, near poverty, working almost daily in the British Museum on “Capital”.
• The “Manifesto”: in January 1848 Marx and Engels published the “Communist Manifesto”, opening “A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of communism”.
• The “Manifesto”: called for uncompromising struggle against the bourgeoisie and proclaimed inevitable revolution, attainable only by forcible overthrow.
• The “Manifesto” ended: “The proletarians have nothing to lose in it but their chains. They have a world to win. Workers of all lands, unite!”

People

• Karl Marx
• Friedrich Engels

Place

Germany, France, Belgium, England (London)