Communism
Also known as
Socialism or Marxism
Founding Fathers
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
• 19th century German philosophers
Basic Ideas of Communism
• Individual ownership of property ends.
• All property is owned communally by all of
the people.
• Government controls the whole economy.
• Economic decisions are made to benefit the
people as a whole.
• Everyone is expected to contribute to
the economy based upon his ability and
to receive goods and services based
upon his needs.
• A classless society in which everyone is
equal is created.
• Religion, “the opiate of the masses,” is
abandoned.
• Communism is spread around the world
creating a stateless society.
Communist Terms
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Proletariat- working class
Bourgeoisie- merchant class
Means of Production- factories
Classless Society- everyone is equal
Dictatorship of the Masses- strong
communist government
Using the Terms
The ___________ will rise up and seize
the __________ from the __________
and then create a __________ to help
build a new ___________.
The proletariat will rise up and seize the
means of production from the
bourgeoisie and then create a
dictatorship of the masses to help build
a new classless society.