Wen's note: Almost catching up with the progress ~
Module SEVEN: The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of the International Communist Movement
Lecture 2: The Birth of Marxism and the Rise of the International Communist Movement:
I. Marx and Engels:
1. Main activities:
(1) Marx published an article in the Rheinische Zeitung attacking the Prussian government.
(2) Marx met Engels in Paris, and the two young men discussed the various theories and the European workers' movement together.
(3) Marx wrote Capital.
2. Marx of his youth wrote in his high school graduation thesis , "Considerations of Youth in Choosing a Profession" that if a man works only for himself, he may be able to become a famous scholar, a great philosopher, a brilliant poet, but he can never become a perfect and truly great person. If we choose the profession that best works for humanity, then the burden cannot overwhelm us.
Reflecting marx's lofty ideals and firm beliefs in dedicating himself to the happiness of mankind and fighting for communism, Marxism inspired tens of millions of people to struggle for the liberation of mankind.
3. Marxist Theory:
(1) Formation: Marx and Engels critically inherited the essence of the ideas of their predecessors and formed Marxist theory.
(2) Composition: Three major theoretical sources of Marxism.
(1) Marxist philosophy.
(2) Political economy.
(3) Scientific socialism.
II. The Communist Manifesto:
1. Publication: In 1848, the Communist Manifesto, a program drafted by Marx and Engels for the Communist League, was officially published in London.
2. Main contents:
(1) Mankind entered the era of capitalism, and the whole society was increasingly divided into two opposing classes: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
(2) Affirm that the bourgeoisie has played a very revolutionary role in history.
(3) Call upon the working class to organize and establish the proletariat's own party, the Communist Party, to overthrow bourgeois rule by force and carry out a proletarian revolution.
3. Role: Marking the birth of Marxism.
4. The historical status of Marxism: (Knocking on the blackboard knowledge point: Marxism was not founded by Marx alone, although Marxist theory does not involve Engels in name, but it was co-founded by Marx and Engels.) ）
(1) Marxism is a scientific theory that creatively reveals the law of human social development.
(2) Marxism is the theory of the people, and for the first time created the ideological system of the people to achieve their own liberation.
(3) Marxism is a practical theory that guides the people's actions to transform the world.
(4) Marxism is an ever-evolving and open theory that has always stood at the forefront of the times.
(5) It has opened up a new situation in the international workers' movement and the socialist movement, has become a sharp ideological weapon of the world proletariat, and has played a tremendous role in promoting the proletarian revolutionary movement throughout the world.
5. The influence of Marxism: The revolutionary struggle of the proletariat has been guided by scientific theories, and the international communist movement has risen and flourished.
The First International and the Paris Commune:
1. Establishment of the First International:
(1) Background: After the birth of Marxism, the international workers' movement entered a new historical period.
(2) Overview: In 1864, workers' representatives from Britain, France, Germany and other countries united to form the International Workers' Association, known historically as the "First International".
(3) Role: After the establishment of the First International, branches were established in various countries, and efforts were made to unite the struggles of the working class in various countries and carry out economic struggles.
2. Paris Commune:
(1) Process:
(1) On March 18, 1871, the proletariat and the masses of the people in Paris staged an armed uprising, drove out the bourgeois government and overthrew the reactionary rule of the bourgeoisie.
(2) On March 28, 1871, the people of Paris were elected to establish their own regime, the Paris Commune.
(2) Nature: The Paris Commune was the first great attempt of the proletariat to overthrow bourgeois rule and establish political power, and the first proletarian power in the world.
(3) Support: The Commune is supported by the First International, and many of its leaders are members of the First International.
(4) The intrinsic link between the Paris Commune and Marxism (influence of the Paris Commune): The Paris Commune was the first great attempt of the world's proletariat to establish political power, enriched Marxist theoretical doctrine, and provided valuable experience and lessons for the international communist movement.