The rich will do anything for the poor but get off their backs
-Karl Marx
Date of Birth: May 5, 1818
Date of Death: March 14, 1883 Early Years: Karl Heinrich Marx was born to Heinrich and Henrietta Marx in Trier, Prussia. There were a total of nine children in his family. His father was a successful lawyer who revered Kant and Voltaire. His father was also an activist for the Prussian reform. They were originally Jewish, but later on converted to Christianity. Karl Marx was baptized as a Lutheran. He was not the greatest student, but he was average. He learned at home till the age of 12 and spent five years in a Jesuit high school. Education: In 1835, Marx started school at the University of Bonn. It was known to be a "party"school. Lots of rebelliousness and lively characteristics stirred in Marx's student life. He was imprisoned for drunkenness and disturbing the peace, incurred debts, and |
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participating in fights. When that year was over, Marx's father insisted he enroll in a more serious school: the University of Berlin.
In Berlin, he studied law and philosophy. He was introduced to the topic of philosophy by a professor G.W.F. Hegel. Marx soon joined the Young Hegelians. They were a radical group of students including Bruno Bauer and Ludwig Feuerbach, who criticized the political and religious establishments of the day.
In 1836, Marx became secretly engaged to Jenny von Westphalen, a respected woman four years older than him. It caused his father to be extremely angry. His wife-to-be was from a higher class. Marx ended up receiving his Doctorate from the University of Jena, but he did not marry Jenny. But because of his radical political views, he could not maintain or acquire a teaching position.
Three months later he finally married Jenny.
Influences:
Karl Marx was deeply influenced by George Friedrich Hegel.
Ideas:
Along with the Left-Hegelians, Marx believed that society is far from fully evolved and for proof looked not only to the authoritarianism of the Prussian government but also to the social divisions and civil unrest created by industrialization and the increasing polarization of society into rich and poor.
His Writing:
Effect on World History:
"The Communist Manifesto" was one of the most influential writings in world history. Marx theorized that all of human history was defined by class struggles. This occurred between the ruling class and the working class. He argued that the working class would sooner or later overthrow the ruling class and create a Utopian society. Marx's philosophy contributed to Communism.
In Berlin, he studied law and philosophy. He was introduced to the topic of philosophy by a professor G.W.F. Hegel. Marx soon joined the Young Hegelians. They were a radical group of students including Bruno Bauer and Ludwig Feuerbach, who criticized the political and religious establishments of the day.
In 1836, Marx became secretly engaged to Jenny von Westphalen, a respected woman four years older than him. It caused his father to be extremely angry. His wife-to-be was from a higher class. Marx ended up receiving his Doctorate from the University of Jena, but he did not marry Jenny. But because of his radical political views, he could not maintain or acquire a teaching position.
Three months later he finally married Jenny.
Influences:
Karl Marx was deeply influenced by George Friedrich Hegel.
Ideas:
Along with the Left-Hegelians, Marx believed that society is far from fully evolved and for proof looked not only to the authoritarianism of the Prussian government but also to the social divisions and civil unrest created by industrialization and the increasing polarization of society into rich and poor.
His Writing:
- The German Ideology (1864)
- The Communist Manifesto (1848)
- The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte (1852)
- Capital (Das Kapital) (1867)
Effect on World History:
"The Communist Manifesto" was one of the most influential writings in world history. Marx theorized that all of human history was defined by class struggles. This occurred between the ruling class and the working class. He argued that the working class would sooner or later overthrow the ruling class and create a Utopian society. Marx's philosophy contributed to Communism.
Animal Farm
In the story, Old Major represented Karl Marx. He serves as the source of the ideals that the animals continue to uphold even after the pig leader have betrayed them all. Old Major is who all the animals look up to; this is because he claimed a false brotherhood with the animals so he will gain their support and support his visions.
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