1. Communism

2. Definition of Communism
A political or economic system in which the major resources and means of production are owned by the community rather than by individuals

3. Definition of Communism (continued)
Communists traditionally have called for government ownership rather than private ownership of land, factories, and other economic resources (the means of production)
There is also government planning of economic activities

4. Definition of Communism (continued)
A long-range goal of communism is a society that provides equality and economic security for all

5. Karl Marx
German philosopher that transformed communism into a revolutionary movement

6. Karl Marx (continued)
Marx's basic ideas were first expressed in the Communist Manifesto (1848), a pamphlet that he wrote with Friedrich Engels (a German economist)
Both Marx and Engels lived during the Industrial Revolution when factories were being built and people worked in horrible conditions

7. Karl Marx (continued)
Marx believed the only way to ensure a happy, harmonious society was to put the workers in control
His ideas were partly a reaction against hardships suffered by workers in England, France, and Germany during the Industrial Revolution

8. Marx believed that the triumph of communism was inevitable
Karl Marx (continued)
Marx believed that the triumph of communism was inevitable
Marx claimed that the owners of factories and other means of production—the ruling class—used their economic power to force their will on the working class

9. Marx assumed that the ruling class would never willingly give up power
Karl Marx (continued)
Marx assumed that the ruling class would never willingly give up power
As a result, he believed that struggle and violence were inevitable to overthrow this system

10. Karl Marx (continued)
Marx called for the abolition of capitalism, an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned

11. Karl Marx (continued)
Under capitalism, Marx argued the bourgeoisie (“the haves”) were the owners and managers of the means of production and the workers, or proletariat (“the have-nots”), were being exploited

12. Karl Marx (continued)
Marx believed that eventually the workers would revolt against capitalism and take control of the means of production and set-up a classless, communist society

13. Examples of Communism
Communism came to the Soviet Union in 1917 as a result of the Russian Revolution
It would last until the 1990s when communism collapsed
Communism came to China through a revolution in 1949 and the People’s Republic of China was born

14. Examples of Communism (continued)
Throughout the s communism also spread to various countries in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia
In 1959 communism came to Cuba through a revolution as Fidel Castro took power

15. Information courtesy of World Book Online Encyclopedia
References
Information courtesy of World Book Online Encyclopedia