Communism History Quiz- vocab terms

communism

Communism is a system where everything (like land, factories, and businesses) is owned by the community instead of by individuals.

The goal is to make everyone equal, so people share resources and no one is very rich or very poor. The government usually controls production and decides how goods are distributed.

Communism was developed mainly by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 1800s.

They explained their ideas in a book called The Communist Manifesto (1848), where they argued that society should have no social classes and that workers should own the means of production instead of wealthy individuals.

capitalism

Capitalism is an economic system where individuals or private businesses own property and companies.

People make money by selling goods or services, and prices are set by supply and demand. The goal is to earn profit, and people can choose what jobs to work and what businesses to start.

Capitalism was not invented by one person — it developed gradually over hundreds of years as trade and markets grew.

However, Adam Smith is often called the “father of capitalism” because he explained and supported it in his book The Wealth of Nations (1776). He described how free markets and competition can benefit society.

socialism

Socialism is an economic system where major industries and resources are owned or controlled by the government or the community.

The goal is to reduce inequality by making sure everyone has access to basic needs like healthcare, education, and jobs, rather than allowing wealth to be concentrated in a few hands.

Socialism wasn’t invented by a single person, but Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels helped develop the most famous ideas about it in the 1800s.

Other early thinkers, like Henri de Saint-Simon and Robert Owen, also promoted forms of socialism before Marx, focusing on cooperation and social welfare.

social darwinism

Social Darwinism is the idea that the principles of “survival of the fittest” from Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution apply to human society.

People who support it believe that some groups or individuals naturally become more successful or powerful than others, and that this is “natural” or justified. It has been widely criticized because it was often used to justify inequality, racism, and imperialism. THE IDEA THAT MORE TALENTED PEOPLE ARE JUST GENETICALLY BETTER

marxism

Marxism is a political and economic theory created by Karl Marx.

It says that history is shaped by class struggle between the rich (owners) and the poor (workers). Marx believed workers should overthrow the wealthy owners and create a classless society where everything is shared equally.

Marxism is the foundation for ideas like communism and socialism.