K arl Marx’s The Com m unist
Manifesto
(Com plete Notes)
In tr odu ction & Section 1, B ou r geois an d Pr oletar ian s (Par t 1)
Sum m ar y
The Communist Manifesto begins by announcing, "A spectre is haunting Europe—the
spectre of Communism." All of the European powers have allied themselves against
Communism, frequently demonizing its ideas. Therefore, the Communists have
assembled in London and written this Manifesto in order to make public their views,
aims and tendencies, and to dispel the maliciously implanted misconceptions.
The Manifesto begins by addressing the issue of class antagonism. Marx writes, "The
history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Throughout
history we see the oppressor and oppressed in constant opposition to each other. This
fight is sometimes hidden and sometimes open. However, each time the fight ends in
either a revolutionary reconstruction of society or in the classes' common ruin.
In earlier ages, we saw society arranged into complicated class structures. For example,
in medieval times there were feudal lords, vassals, guild-masters, journeymen,
apprentices and serfs. Modern bourgeois society sprouted from the ruins of feudal
society. This society has class antagonisms as well, but it is also unique: class
antagonisms have become simplified, as society increasingly splits into two rival camps
—Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.
The Manifesto then shows how the modern bourgeoisie is the product of several
revolutions in the mode of production and of exchange. The development of the
bourgeoisie began in the earliest towns, and gained momentum with the Age of
Exploration. Feudal guilds couldn't provide for increasing markets, and the
manufacturing middle class took its place. However, markets kept growing and demand
kept increasing, and manufacture couldn't keep up. This led to the Industrial
Revolution. Manufacture was replaced by "Modern Industry," and the industrial middle
class was replaced by "industrial millionaires," the modern bourgeois. With these
developments, the bourgeoisie have become powerful, and have pushed medieval
classes into the background. The development of the bourgeoisie as a class was
accompanied by a series of political developments. With the development of Modern
, Industry and the world-market, the bourgeoisie has gained exclusive political sway. The
State serves solely the bourgeoisie's interests.
Historically, the bourgeoisie has played a quite revolutionary role. Whenever it has
gained power, it has put to an end all "feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations." It has
eliminated the relationships that bound people to their superiors, and now all remaining
relations between men are characterized by self-interest alone. Religious fervor, chivalry
and sentimentalism have all been sacrificed. Personal worth is now measured by
exchange value, and the only freedom is that of Free Trade. Thus, exploitation that used
to be veiled by religious and political "illusions" is now direct, brutal and blatant. The
bourgeoisie has changed all occupations into wage-laboring professions, even those that
were previously honored, such as that of the doctor. Similarly, family relations have lost
their veil of sentimentality and have been reduced to pure money relations.
In the past, industrial classes required the conservation of old modes of production in
order to survive. The bourgeoisie are unique in that they cannot continue to exist
without revolutionizing the instruments of production. This implies revolutionizing the
relations of production, and with it, all of the relations in society. Thus, the unique
uncertainties and disturbances of the modern age have forced Man to face his real
condition in life, and his true relations with others.
Because the bourgeoisie needs a constantly expanding market, it settles and establishes
connections all over the globe. Production and consumption have taken on a
cosmopolitan character in every country. This is true both for materials and for
intellectual production, as national sovereignty and isolationism becomes less and less
possible to sustain. The bourgeoisie draws even the most barbaric nations into
civilization and compels all nations to adopt its mode of production. It "creates a world
after its own image." All become dependent on the bourgeoisie. It has also increased
political centralization.
Thus, we see that the means of production and of exchange, which serve as the basis of
the bourgeoisie, originated in feudal society. At a certain stage, however, the feudal
relations ceased to be compatible with the developing productive forces. Thus the
"fetters" of the feudal system had to be "burst asunder," and they were. Free competition
replaced the old system, and the bourgeoisie rose to power.
Marx then says that a similar movement is underway at the present moment. Modern
bourgeois society is in the process of turning on itself. Modern productive forces are
revolting against the modern conditions of production. Commercial crises, due,
ironically, to over-production, are threatening the existence of bourgeois society.
Productive forces are now fettered by bourgeois society, and these crises represent this
tension. Yet in attempting to remedy these crises, the bourgeoisie simply cause new and
Manifesto
(Com plete Notes)
In tr odu ction & Section 1, B ou r geois an d Pr oletar ian s (Par t 1)
Sum m ar y
The Communist Manifesto begins by announcing, "A spectre is haunting Europe—the
spectre of Communism." All of the European powers have allied themselves against
Communism, frequently demonizing its ideas. Therefore, the Communists have
assembled in London and written this Manifesto in order to make public their views,
aims and tendencies, and to dispel the maliciously implanted misconceptions.
The Manifesto begins by addressing the issue of class antagonism. Marx writes, "The
history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Throughout
history we see the oppressor and oppressed in constant opposition to each other. This
fight is sometimes hidden and sometimes open. However, each time the fight ends in
either a revolutionary reconstruction of society or in the classes' common ruin.
In earlier ages, we saw society arranged into complicated class structures. For example,
in medieval times there were feudal lords, vassals, guild-masters, journeymen,
apprentices and serfs. Modern bourgeois society sprouted from the ruins of feudal
society. This society has class antagonisms as well, but it is also unique: class
antagonisms have become simplified, as society increasingly splits into two rival camps
—Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.
The Manifesto then shows how the modern bourgeoisie is the product of several
revolutions in the mode of production and of exchange. The development of the
bourgeoisie began in the earliest towns, and gained momentum with the Age of
Exploration. Feudal guilds couldn't provide for increasing markets, and the
manufacturing middle class took its place. However, markets kept growing and demand
kept increasing, and manufacture couldn't keep up. This led to the Industrial
Revolution. Manufacture was replaced by "Modern Industry," and the industrial middle
class was replaced by "industrial millionaires," the modern bourgeois. With these
developments, the bourgeoisie have become powerful, and have pushed medieval
classes into the background. The development of the bourgeoisie as a class was
accompanied by a series of political developments. With the development of Modern
, Industry and the world-market, the bourgeoisie has gained exclusive political sway. The
State serves solely the bourgeoisie's interests.
Historically, the bourgeoisie has played a quite revolutionary role. Whenever it has
gained power, it has put to an end all "feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations." It has
eliminated the relationships that bound people to their superiors, and now all remaining
relations between men are characterized by self-interest alone. Religious fervor, chivalry
and sentimentalism have all been sacrificed. Personal worth is now measured by
exchange value, and the only freedom is that of Free Trade. Thus, exploitation that used
to be veiled by religious and political "illusions" is now direct, brutal and blatant. The
bourgeoisie has changed all occupations into wage-laboring professions, even those that
were previously honored, such as that of the doctor. Similarly, family relations have lost
their veil of sentimentality and have been reduced to pure money relations.
In the past, industrial classes required the conservation of old modes of production in
order to survive. The bourgeoisie are unique in that they cannot continue to exist
without revolutionizing the instruments of production. This implies revolutionizing the
relations of production, and with it, all of the relations in society. Thus, the unique
uncertainties and disturbances of the modern age have forced Man to face his real
condition in life, and his true relations with others.
Because the bourgeoisie needs a constantly expanding market, it settles and establishes
connections all over the globe. Production and consumption have taken on a
cosmopolitan character in every country. This is true both for materials and for
intellectual production, as national sovereignty and isolationism becomes less and less
possible to sustain. The bourgeoisie draws even the most barbaric nations into
civilization and compels all nations to adopt its mode of production. It "creates a world
after its own image." All become dependent on the bourgeoisie. It has also increased
political centralization.
Thus, we see that the means of production and of exchange, which serve as the basis of
the bourgeoisie, originated in feudal society. At a certain stage, however, the feudal
relations ceased to be compatible with the developing productive forces. Thus the
"fetters" of the feudal system had to be "burst asunder," and they were. Free competition
replaced the old system, and the bourgeoisie rose to power.
Marx then says that a similar movement is underway at the present moment. Modern
bourgeois society is in the process of turning on itself. Modern productive forces are
revolting against the modern conditions of production. Commercial crises, due,
ironically, to over-production, are threatening the existence of bourgeois society.
Productive forces are now fettered by bourgeois society, and these crises represent this
tension. Yet in attempting to remedy these crises, the bourgeoisie simply cause new and
