Kinzler 1

Lydia Kinzler
Mr. Disney
English I Honors
29 September 2014
Karl Marx, 1818-1883
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. Karl Marx
Karl Marx was born on May 5, 1818, in the city of Trier
in Rheinish Prussia (now Germany). He was born into a Jewish
family, but converted to Protestantism in 1824. Marx entered
universities at both Bonn and Berlin, where he read law,
majoring in history and philosophy. He finished in 1841after
writing a key paper for his Doctorate, on the philosophy of
Epicurus. Marx belonged to the circle of "Left Hegelians" that focused on atheism and much of
Hegels philosophy. My goal in this paper is to present Karl Marx from various times in his life as
he evolved his philosophies. To achieve this goal, I have organized my paper into three main
sections: Karl Marx the man, Karl Marx the historian, and Karl Marx the Philosopher/Sociologist.
Much like the quote I chose as a sub-title of this paper provides one of the key points is that through
the study of history we can try to change the future. I have also included a Works Cited section
at the end of the paper.

Kinzler 2

KARL MARX AND MARXISM.

Karl Marx the Man. Discuss Karl Marx from a biographical aspect by addressing the following
bullet points:
Born to Jewish parents in a family of nine children.
Father was a lawyer.
Early childhood and schooling.
Karl Marx the Historian. Discuss Karl Marx, writer and historian aspect by addressing the
following bullet points:
University life and the forming of young, rebellious Karl Marx.
In 1841, Marx wrote a key paper for his Doctorate, on the philosophy of Epicurus.
In 1843, Marx moved to Paris where he made an in-depth study of political economy and
the history of the great French Revolution. This is also when he married a prominent lady
who was the sister of the von Westphalen who later became Prussian Minister of the
Interior.
Karl Marx the Philosopher/Sociologist. Discuss Karl Marx and how his works changed the course
of history aspect by addressing the following bullet points:
Expelled from France by Guizot in 1845.
Rejects most tenants of socialism and begins to formulate his own ideas.
Expelled from Belgium by the government.
Returns to France, invited by French government.

Kinzler 3

Karl Marx was initially influenced by Hegel, but Marx rejected the idealism of Hegel.
Marx believed in a more materialistic theory of history as science. Marx was convinced
that the working class was key to any society's success.
June 1848, Marx was Editor-in-Chief of the Neue Rheinische
Zeitung (New Rhenish Gazette. Organ of Democracy).
Friedrich Engels became a key editor, but kept close to Marx
in the writings.
Other Major Publications
The German Ideology (1845)
Wage-Labor and Capital (1847)
A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy
(1859)
Capital (Das Kapital) (1867)
Karl Marx died of cancer on March 14, 1883.
CONCLUSION
Karl Marx influenced modern socialism. He is considered one of the founders of economic
history and sociology. Marx devoted the last decades of his life to working on Das Kapital and
working towards a perfect form of government. Karl Marx is best known for:
Key contributor to the founding of sociology
Socio-political theory of Marxism
Co-Author of Communist Manifesto
Manifesto of the Communist Party.
By Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in February 1848.

Kinzler 4

Works Cited
"Karl Marx Biography Economist, Historian, Journalist." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television,
n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. <http://www.biography.com/people/karl-marx-9401219>.
"Karl Marx Quotes." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/k/karl_marx.html>.
Kreis, John. "The History Guide's Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History: Karl
Marx." History Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/marx.html>.
Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. "Manifesto of the Communist Party." Manifesto of the
Communist Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.
<https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm>.
Marx, Karl. "The Poverty of Philosophy." The Poverty of Philosophy. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept.
2014. <https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/povertyphilosophy/index.htm>.
"Marxists Internet Archive Library, Complete Index of Writers." Marxists Internet Archive
Library, Complete Index of Writers. N.p., 14 June 2005. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.
<https://www.marxists.org/archive/>.