Communism

Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto

Did Marx hearken back to better times? Was there something wrong with the time that he was living in?

Marx opens the Communist Manifesto by explaining the class struggles that have existed since the Middle Ages. In the feudal system, there were several different classes in which a person could find themselves doing meaningful work. Guild-masters, apprentices, and journeymen were all paid for their craft. The new proletariat, which is paid for its time instead of its skill, has lost all of its character and pride. Instead of working towards creating something, the proletariat becomes a part of the machine. 

Proletariat: the ones producing things (workers)
Bourgeoisie: controls the means of production

During the Industrial Revolution, the social and economic divides between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat became wider. Increased economic globalization offered markets into which the bourgeoisie could expand and consolidate their power. The Communist Manifesto is largely a response to these changes. Marx was appalled by the worsening conditions of the urban laborers during the Industrial Revolution and communism is his proposed solution.  


Did he want everyone to be equal?
The Communist Manifesto does explain how economic equality is important, but it does not explicitly say that all people should be equal. Its main intention is toppling the bourgeoisie's power and redistributing it to the people who actually produce stuff (the proletariat). He does not want perfect equality, he just wants the efforts of the working-class to be recognized fairly. 

Why does Hannah think they're terrorists?
During the cold war, communism was targeted by the United States. Propaganda was spread throughout the country and the echoes of the anti-communist campaign still remain today.