Manifesto of the Communist Party Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts from the 'Manifesto of the Communist Party,' focusing on essential terms and their definitions.

Communism

A political theory advocating for a classless society where the means of production are communally owned.

Bourgeoisie

The class of modern capitalists who own the means of social production and employ wage labor.

Proletariat

The class of modern wage laborers who do not own production means and must sell their labor power to survive.

Class struggle

The ongoing conflict between different classes in society, particularly between oppressors and the oppressed.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit.

Feudalism

A social system in medieval Europe where land was owned by lords and worked by serfs in exchange for protection.

Historical materialism

A methodology that looks at the economic forces that drive historical change and social structure.

Industrial Revolution

The transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Alienation

The separation of individuals from the products of their labor, resulting in a loss of control over their work and life.

Surplus value

The difference between the value produced by labor and the actual wage paid to the laborer, which is appropriated by the capitalist.

Proletarian revolution

A working-class uprising that aims to overthrow the capitalist class and establish a classless society.