Socialism
A response to the Industrial
Revolution and Capitalism.
Be sure to read carefully and
answer and questions
highlighted in gray!
Mrs. Orzoff-Baranyk
4/29/2010
The following is from a speech given by Alexis De Tocqueville (French political thinker and historian) in 1848
“Consider what is happening among the working classes… Do you not see spreading among them, little by little,
opinions and ideas that aim not to overturn such and such ministry, or such laws, or such a government, but society
itself, to shake it to the foundations upon which it now rests?”
What events that you know of, does the above statement remind you of?
Basic Beliefs of Socialism
Government should intervene in the economy.
Wealthy people/ the Government must help improve people’s lives.
Do you think these ideas are unreasonable? If so, why? If not, why?
The Rise of Socialism
Utilitarianism (late 1700s – 1800s)
o Concept created by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham & expanded by John Stuart
Mill.
o Modified capitalism
o Basic beliefs:
 People should judge ideas, institutions, and actions on the basis of their
usefulness, or utility.
 Government policies should benefit the most people possible, and is only useful
if it meets that goal.
 Individuals should be free to pursue wealth without government interference.
 Questioned unregulated capitalism.
 Felt it was wrong for workers to live in poverty, near starvation.
 Wanted a system that would lead to more equal division of profits.
o Other beliefs
 Women’s rights (including suffrage)
 Cooperative agriculture (sharing fields, supplies, etc)
 Reforms in legal & prison system.
 Reforms in Education.
 Economic equality for all.
Utopian ideas (1800s)
o Do you remember Utopia by Thomas More from the Northern Renaissance?
What did Utopia mean in Greek? What was More’s Utopian society like?
o
Robert Owens
o Factory owner (Scotland), worked to improve conditions for employees after being
shocked at their living conditions.
 Built houses and rented them out at low rates.
 No children under 10 allowed to work in his mills.
 Free schooling offered for children.
o Founded New Harmony, Indiana USA in 1825
 Wanted this to be a Utopian society.
 Lasted three years but inspired others.
Now that you’ve read a bit about Utilitarianism and Utopianism, which ideas do you approve
of? Which do you reject as bad ideas? Explain your answer.
Socialism
Ideas originally from French reformers
Wanted to make life better for workers suffering through Industrial
Revolution
Optimistic view of human nature, belief in progress, concern for social
justice.
Basic Beliefs
o The public/government should own the means of production
(factories, mines, railroads, etc.) and they should be operated for
the welfare of all.
 Workers would not be at the mercy of their employers.
o Government should plan the economy, not just depend on freemarket capitalism
o This could end poverty and promote equality.
Capitalism
Individuals and businessmen own property and the
means of production.
Progress results when individuals follow their own selfinterest.
Businesses follow their own self-interest by competing
for the consumer’s money. Each business tries to
produce goods or services that are better and less
expensive than those of competitors.
Consumers compete to buy the best goods at the
lowest prices. This competition shapes the market by
affecting what businesses are able to sell.
Government should not interfere in the economy
because competition creates efficiency in business.
Socialism
The community/state should won property and the
means of production.
Progress results when a community of producers
cooperate for the good of all.
Socialists believe that capitalist employers take
advantage of workers. The community or state must
act to protect workers.
Capitalism creates unequal distribution of wealth and
material goods. A better system is to distribute goods
according to each person’s needs.
An unequal distribution of wealth and material goods is
unfair. A better system is to distribute goods according
to each person’s needs.
Radical Socialism/ Marxism/ Communism
Introduced by Karl Marx (German journalist & philosopher, forced to flee to
England in 1849 due to Revolutions breaking out across Europe) & Friedrich
Engels (German son of a textile mill owner in Manchester, England. He financially
supported Marx.)
o Wrote The Communist Manifesto (1848)
The following is from The Communist Manifesto (1848)
“Freeman and slave, patrician and plebian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor
and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, carried on an uninterrupted, now hidden, now open
fight, a fight that each time ended, either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending
classes.”
What is the argument being proposed by Marx & Engels in the excerpt above?
o
o
o
Marx called the working class the proletariat & the factory owners and bosses, the
bourgeoisie. Marx felt the proletariat created the wealth by making the products, but
that the wealth was stolen by the bourgeoisie.
Felt the Industrial Revolution had made the bourgeoisie rich and the proletariat poor.
Marx liked to call his form of socialism “scientific socialism” because he felt it was
practical and could be achieved, unlike utopian socialism.
Basic Beliefs
o Working men of the world will unite in a violent and bloody revolution against the
bourgeoisie.
 “Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but
their chains. They have the world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite.”
The quote above is also from the Communist Manifesto. Does the language used remind you of
statements made by any other philosophers? Who does it remind you of, or from what time
period?
o
o
o
There will be a temporary dictatorship of the proletariat to redistribute lands and the
means of production. They will stay in power until society is used to the changes.
o “The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private
property” (Marx)
Society will achieve economic equality, there will be no classes, and all people will have
what they need.
The government will dissolve because government will not be necessary when all men
work for the benefit of society.
Communist countries today include China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. Are they
truly Marxist communist countries according to the above? What is different about them?
Other beliefs of Marx
Until the Revolution, communists should work to achieve a graduated income tax (meaning the
rich pay higher taxes than the poor), free education for all children, abolition of child factory
labor (all eventually adopted in industrialized countries).
The Bourgeoisie were amoral people who destroyed society, abused workers & perpetuated
prostitution (which was a further abuse of the poor).
Religion was the “opiate of the masses,” that keeps workers from reaching their potential.
Wealth = power. Those who are economically stable are the ones who change the world which
is why it was important to end poverty.
All working people should be equal in all rights, this included women.
What are your thoughts on Marx’s beliefs? Which ones strike you as reasonable & which are
unreasonable? Be sure to explain your answer.
The Development of Socialism
1792: London Corresponding Society founded as the first working-class political organization in
Britain.
1799: Worker’s unions were forbidden by the Combination Act of 1799.
1824: England repealed the Combination Act.
1830s: Workers were more interested in forming Unions than becoming socialists.
What do unions do for workers? If you don’t know – google it!
1833: England abolished the slavery in its empire.
1848: Communist Manifesto was published, and while there were several revolts that shook
Europe (1848-1849) most were not inspired by the Communist Manifesto and were eventually
put down by European leaders.
o In France, the monarchy was finally abolished for good, and a Republic replaced it.
 Soon after, government-sponsored workshops were created to employ the
poor.
 When an elected conservative government closed the workshops, workers took
to the streets and rioted. The army was called out. 10,000 were killed.
1850s: The fight for women’s rights begins in England, the United States, and other
industrialized countries.
1860s: Unions and Socialists began working together drawing mass support.
1864: International Workingmen’s Association formed in London.
1869: Social Democratic Worker’s Party (SDW) of Germany formed.
1875: SDW merged with the General German Workers Association, and became The German
Social Democratic Party (SPD).
o In the 1870s they created trade unions throughout Germany.
1876: First Socialist party formed in the United States.
1889: The Second International Workingmen’s Association formed.
o 300 socialist and labor union organizations from 20 countries sent 384 delegates.
o Radical socialists were kicked out.
1890s: Socialism became popular in Germany.
1890: The socialist party of the United States became a Marxist party.
Early 1900s: Socialism gained popularity in France & Russia.
1900: The Labour Party was formed in England and won 2 seats in Parliament.
1906: The Labour Party won 29 seats in Parliament and became a permanent fixture in politics
(it still exists today!).
1914: 4 million British citizens were members of trade unions.
1917: Inspired by Marx, but led by Vladimir Lenin, the first “communist revolution” took over
the government of Russia, eventually creating the United Soviet Socialist Republic.
What do you think the connection is between all of the events listed above? What is the
common thread that unites them?
Marx believed that the first proletarian revolution would take place in England. It didn’t.
Using this packet, and referring back to your Industrial Revolution packet, give THREE good
reasons why this revolution did not occur.
Marx and Engels believed that economic forces alone dominated & changed society. Do you
agree? Is it economic forces alone that influence history? Explain your answer.