The Ideas of Karl Marx

INTRODUCTION

Today we will discuss the ideas of Karl Marx. Marx's critique of capitalism and his belief that its collapse would lead to a socialist utopia were immensely influential, especially in the 20th century.

Question of the Day

Why did Karl Marx believe that capitalism would ultimately collapse?

Focus Questions

• What is Marxism?

• What is communism

• What is scientific socialism?

• What are dialectical materialism and historical materialism?

VOCABULARY

• 1. Industrial Revolution

  2. Enclosure

  3. Crop rotation

  4. Industrialization

  5. Factors of production

  6. Factory

  7. Entrepreneur

  8. Urbanization

  9. Middle class

  10. Stock

  11. Corporation

  12. Laissez-faire

  13. Adam Smith

  14. Capitalism

  15. Utilitarianism

  16. Socialism

  17. Karl Marx

  18. Communism

  19. Union

  20. Strike

  21. Suffrage

  22. Chartist Movement

  23. Queen Victoria

  24. Third Republic

  25. Iron law of wages

  26. Malthusian trap

  27. Invisible hand

  28. Competition

  29. Price mechanism

  30. Dominion

  31. Penal colony

  32. Home rule

  33. U.S. Civil War

  34. Assembly line

  35. Charles Darwin

  36. Theory of evolution

  37. Bourgeoisie

  38. Proletariat

  39. Class conflict

1. Communist Manifesto

2. Das Kapital

   1. Imperialism

   2. Racism

   3. Social Darwinism

   4. Berlin Conference

   5. Shaka

   6. Boer

   7. Boer War

WHAT IS DUE TODAY?

1. Read Chapter 6 in The Worldly Philosophers by Robert Heilbroner.

2. Take notes on the reading. Organize your notes using the Question of the Day and today's Focus Questions. For each one, note at least one passage and any other information from the text that helps to answer the question.

ASSESSMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

1. Watch this Crash Course video together.

2. Scored discussion of the reading

3. DBQ activity. We will continue working on the DBQ activity. Click here to find it again. Work from the draft that you started as a Google doc ("Why England First"). Try to finish the body of your essay today. This PowerPoint may be helpful, as it explains how to write a DBQ response.

WHAT IS DUE NEXT CLASS?

1. Read Chapter 27 (Sections 1 and 2) in the blue textbook.

2. Be prepared for a quiz on vocabulary terms 37-48.

3. Take notes on the reading. You should organize your notes around the key ideas below. Under each key idea in your notes should be SHE from the reading that supports it. If you cannot find support for the key idea, do not include it in your notes.

   • Industrialists sought new markets in which to obtain raw materials and sell finished goods.

   • Industrializing powers established transoceanic empires.

   • Spanish and Portuguese influence declined.

   • European states used both warfare and diplomacy to establish empires in Africa.

ENRICHMENT

• For more background, sign up for this Coursera class and watch the video lectures.

Related readings:

• 20th Century Man

• Rage Against the Machine