10/22/13
“Communism”
1. When you hear the words “communism” or “socialism,” what
comes to your mind?
2. Oh look! Enough candy for 3 days of class! Take
some for today, but do
not eat them yet.
10/22/13
“Communism”
When you hear the words “communism” or “socialism,” what
comes to your mind?
10/22/13
Econ. Agenda
1. Due yesterday: F.B. Quests (edited) & Basic Econ. Theories
wksht.
2. Karl Marx’s Theory of Communism (class notes)
• Capitalism vs. socialism vs. communism
3. Rock, Paper, Scissors game – with candy!
HW: RPS game reflection questions
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
German economic philosopher
In the 1800’s, Marx witnessed the uncontrolled
capitalism of the Industrial Revolution…
CAPITALISM:
•
Private ownership of industries &
companies
•
No government regulation
•
Freedom of competition for profit
•
Results in unequal economic
classes (rich & poor; winners &
losers)
Marx argued that such capitalist systems
would inevitably result in class struggle
between the rich and the working classes.
VS.
Owners of industry
(The Rich)
The workers
(proletariat)
The inevitable result
of this class struggle,
Marx thought…
…would be a worker’s
revolt.
In 1848, Marx and Frederich
Engels published The Communist
Manifesto, in which they stated
their ideas, namely that the
proletariat (working class) would
eventually rise up and defeat the
wealthy capitalists.
Once the proletariat came into power, Marx
thought, they would create a new economic
system, called…
•
•
•
•
SOCIALISM:
Government owns and runs industries & companies
“Profits”/taxes go to the govt. 
Resources would be distributed equally by the govt.
Goal is economic equality & a classless society
Eventually, Marx thought the need for government
would fade away because everyone would live by
sharing their resources, striving for equality rather
than for greed and profit.
Marx envisioned this final goal of a worker’s revolution as…
----->
Worker’s revolt
COMMUNISM:
• Classless/equal
society is achieved
• No government
needed to enforce
rules
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
• Each person gets candy
• Class has 7 minutes to play RPS with as many people as
possible
• Winner gets one piece of losers’ candy
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
• When you run out of candy, you must sit down on left side of
room & discuss these questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
How do you feel now that you have run out of candy?
Was this game fair? Why or why not?
How could you get back in the game?
How do you propose to make the game more equal?
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
1. How do you feel now that the game is over?
2. Do you think this game was fair? Why or why not?
3. What action could Harrison take to make the game more
equal? Should he do so? Why or why not?
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
1. How do you feel now? Was this action fair? Why or why
not?
Communist Theory of Karl Marx
Marxist Theory
CAPITALISM
• Private ownership of industry
• Freedom of competition
• Results in unequal economic
classes
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
CAPITALISM
• Started with your own candy
• Played Rock, Paper, Scissors
• Some won, some lost
Communist Theory of Karl Marx
Marxist Theory
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
CLASS STRUGGLE
• Upper class & working class
struggle over wealth
CLASS STRUGGLE
• Discussed how winners and
losers felt
WORKERS REVOLT
• Working class carries out
plan to overtake upper
classes
WORKERS REVOLT
• Planned to get candy back
(stealing?) & argued about
game’s fairness
Communist Theory of Karl Marx
Marxist Theory
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
SOCIALISM
SOCIALISM
• Govt. ownership of industry
• Goal is economic equality
• Aims for classless society
• Harrison (govt.) collected candy
• Harrison redistributed equally
• Equal amount of candy for all!
Communist Theory of Karl Marx
Marxist Theory
Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
COMMUNISM
COMMUNISM
• Classless society achieved;
no more competition for
profit
• Students would refuse to play
again & choose to share candy
equally
• No government needed
• Harrison would no longer need
to supervise
HW: Answer in complete sentences
1. What are the major differences between capitalism,
socialism, & communism?
2. Based on this activity, what are some advantages of a
socialist society? What are some disadvantages? Who
might support socialism & who might not?
3. For each economic system below, choose the economic
theory that most closely aligns with it (Keynesian or TrickleDown), and explain why you think so.
Socialism:
Capitalism:
Based on this activity, what are some advantages of a socialist
society? What are some disadvantages?
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Keynesian or Trickle-Down & why?
Socialism
Capitalism