Socialism
The seemingly swift rush of technological and industrial development throughout the 18th and 19th centuries led to success and advancement in the standard of living and abilities and comforts available to the public. This heightened life was not, however, available to all people equally. Instead, a reaction on the side of economic and social survival took over. The owners of large industrial giants started gaining the good life brought about by this time, while those who worked for them received little that their work reaped. This created a separation by class based on wealth and position in society. Not dissimilar to the class systems of old medieval society, these new classes, first seen in Britain and France, separated the workers, or proletarians, from the few, rich controllers of industry called the Bourgeoisie. This split in society called out for something to help the oppressed majority, to which ideas of Socialism and Karl Marx's The Communist Manifesto responded. In this short, easy to understand pamphlet, Marx attempts to first, discredit and bring blame to the Bourgeoisie while pushing for an answer lying in an economic and political structure known as socialism and communism.
The theme of socialism through history began with this reaction to the industrial revolution. Great Britain and France led the way in testing the waters of socialism as an alternative to the current situation of economic and social confusion. Either name can be used because there is little difference between the two styles or ideals as well as a common place next to each other as each develop themes throughout the history of the 19th and 20th century. The idea of the American individual giving up the land he came here to be free on did not appeal to many. Each system touched every populated continent in the world, usually beginning with socialist movements, then leading to communist radicals, and, in a few countries, lead to actual practices of these styles, particularly communism. The current capitalistic and democratic state of Britain was not satisfactory for the workers. So, should she accept socialism? From the governments stand point, it sees no political or economic purpose. Only about 100,000 people actually accepted this view and joined the wave. America, being young, did not have a basis in feudalism or class systems, which provided the problematic situations seen in Great Britain and Europe. Great Britain as a whole is enjoying the fruits it is producing with its great industry and trade flourishing. Even with this uniting, a firm base of socialistic and communistic thought did not form in America. As Marx stated, laborers worked for the tycoons to "live only so long as they find work, and [to] find work only so long as their labor increases capital" (Marx 13) for the bourgeoisie and the new life created from this work and capital. Rise in appeal for socialism and a sneak of socialistic parties into the governments of western Europe spurred a scare that led to beginnings of social policies to try to appease the public, without hurting the individual and independent success which drove the capitalistic state of Europe at this time. In between wars, however, the class system emerged again as a forefront issue. The current Democratic Party pushes for such things as Medicare, welfare and social security, all socialistic programs starting with the New Deal which now have become Democratic norms.
Common topics in this essay:
Communist Manifesto,
Britain Britain,
Britain Europe,
Recent History,
Deal Democratic,
Britain France,
Socialism America,
World War,
President Roosevelt,
Britain America,
socialist communist,
communist manifesto,
industrial revolution,
class system,
20th century,
19th 20th century,
form socialism,
socialism britain,
class systems,
socialism communism,
reaction industrial revolution,
world reaction,
|
Acceptance Essays
