Madison Womelsdorf

11-5-14
Karl Marxs beliefs

Subversion- An attempt to transform the established social order and its structures of power,
authority, and hierarchy.
Dialectic- Two forces, the thesis and the antithesis come together and eventually produce a
synthesis.
Bourgeoisie- Capitalists who owned the wealth and the means of production in society, they
also exploit the other classes for their labor in which they get paid.
Proletariat- The working class who worked as virtual slaves for the dominant class. Are
exploited by the Bourgeoisie and receive no ownership for production.
International Working Mens Association Formed in 1864 by Marx, it was an organization that
dedicated its time to spreading the revolutionary message of communism to workers all over
the globe. The group ran smoothly at first but because of internal tensions and poor leadership
the organization dispersed in 1876.
1.

According to Marx, what was the essential force that drives history?

He believed that class struggle was the essential force driving forward historical
progress. He also believed that during each stage of history one class always exploited the
other.
2.

Who were the exploited group in society according to Marx and why were they exploited?

The exploited group were the Proletariat and they were exploited by the Bourgeoisie.
The workers did not share the ownership of means of production and the Bourgeoisie gained a
profit from the labor.
3.

What did he believe would resolve this issue of exploitation?

He believed that when the Proletariats rose up in revolution and destroyed the
Bourgeoisies private property it would allow everyone to own common things and would put
an end to social classes. Also government would cease to be necessary because people would
administer their own communities for the common good.

4.

Marx died well before the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. Would he have believed that the
Bolsheviks were proof of his belief that the workers would unite? Why or why not.

Yes he would believe that the Bolsheviks were proof because the Bolsheviks fought
with Lenin and he claimed to be following Marxs beliefs. Also, the Bolsheviks were the working
class and because of this they rose up in revolution which Marxs believed would happen to
obtain social unity and abolish social classes.