1. Amanda Smith SOC 100 February 20, 2015
Karl Marx
Amanda Smith
SOC 100
February 20, 2015

2. Karl Marx: early years Born in 1818 in Trier, Prussia
Oldest surviving boy of 9 children
Parents were Jewish
Father converted to Lutheranism because of laws barring Jews from high society
Baptized at 6 into Lutheranism but later became atheist.

3. University Years University of Berlin (History.com, 2009) Law
Philosophy
First introduced to philosophy of G.W.F. Hegel
Joined Young Hegelians
Group challenged existing institutions and ideas on all fronts including religion, philosophy, ethics and politics
(History.com, 2009)

4. Marx becomes a revolutionary
After graduating, Marx began writing for the liberal democratic newspaper Rheinische Zeitung
He became editor in 1842
1843 the paper was banned by Prussian government citing it was to radical
1843 moved to Paris with his wife and met Friedrich Engels
Engels became Marx’s life long collaborator and friend
1845 Engels and Marx published a criticism of Bauer’s Young Hegelian philosophy called “The Holy Father”
(History.com, 2009)

5. Marx becomes a revolutionary (continued)
Prussian government intervened in 1845 to get Marx expelled from France
Engels and Marx moved to Belgium
Marx renounced his Prussian citizenship
1847 the newly drafted Communist League in London commissioned Marx and Engels to write “The Communist Manifesto”
(History.com, 2009)

6. The communist manifesto
Reflects an attempt to explain goals of Communism and theory underlying the movement
Argues class struggles are motivating force behind all historical developments
States Capitalism is inherently unstable
Revolution is necessary because reforms and changes in government will not resolve the issue
(Spark Notes, 2015)

7. Excerpt of the communist manifesto
The communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.
Working men of all countries unite!
(marxist.org, 2015)

8. Das kapital
1864 Marx helped found the International Workingmen’s Association.
1867 the first volume of “Das Kapital” (Capital) was published.
Marx desired to reveal “the economic law of motion of modern society.”
He theorized that capitalism contained seeds of its own destruction and communism would prevail.
(history.com, 2015)

9. Marx’s final years
Volumes II and III of Das Kapital were completed by 1860 but Marx would work on the manuscripts until his death. Engels published these volumes posthumously.
1864 Marx was elected to the General Council of First International.
His health deteriorated.
Wife and eldest daughter died.
Marx traveled to European spas and Algeria in search of healing.
Marx passed in 1883 from pleurisy.
(historyguide.org, 2015)

10. Excerpt of Engels’ Eulogy
An immeasurable loss has been sustained both by the militant proletariat of Europe and America, and by historical science, in the death of this man. The gap that has been left by the departure of this mighty spirit will soon enough make itself felt. (historyguide.com, 2015)

11. References
Kreis, S. (2008, January 30). Karl Marx. Retrieved from The History Guide: Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History: Marx, K., & Engels, F. (2015). Communist Manifesto. Retrieved from Marxists.org: hyyp:// manifesto/ch04.htm Sparknotes. (2015). Communist Manifesto Summary. Retrieved from Sparknotes.com: Staff, H. (2009). Karl Marx. Retrieved from History.com: marx