Introducction to Communism

Your Thoughts?

• Which of these points to you feel our society should have?

• Central banking system • Government controlled education • Government controlled labour • Government ownership of transportation and communication

vehicles • Government ownership of agricultural means and factories • Total abolition of private property • Progressive income tax on everyone • Elimination of rights of inheritance • Regional planning

What is Communism?

A Simple Lesson

Communist Symbol?

• This is the symbol of Communism – The Hammer and the Sickle

Hammer for the

Workers

Sickle for the Peasants – the

farm labourers

Who are these blokes?

Marx and Engels

‘Those Blokes’ wrote the ‘Communist Manifesto’

in 1847. It’s a short book – but billions of people have read it….

This is Karl Marx, the ‘Father of Communism’. He felt all people in society are equal and deserve what they need, not what they want.

This is his good friend, Frederick Engels.

Development of Communism

• Marx and Engels studied the history of the world’s economies.• This means the way that power, industry and finance are controlled.• They saw the way countries developed in stages.

Primitive Communism

Feudalism

Capitalism

Socialism

Communism

Explain these please!

What is Primitive Communism?

Primitive Communism

This is how humans first lived together – in small tribes. Primitive means ‘not very advanced’ e.g. hunting and gathering. Communism means that everything was shared amongst the tribe – food, jobs, belongings. No-one owned land. Eventually a group comes to power – this leads to Feudalism…

What is Feudalism?

Primitive Communism

Feudalism

Under feudalism, a king or emperor or chief becomes the ruler over all the people.

He gives land and privileges to ‘nobles’ who rule the people for him.

The people are kept uneducated and told that god chose the king to rule. The church helps the king this way.

As trade develops, some people get richer. This leads to Capitalism…..

What is Capitalism?

Feudalism

Capitalism

The business owners or capitalists get richer while the workers do all the hard work.

The capitalists get more power to serve their own interests.

Capitalism creates a huge working-class of people who soon get angry at the way they are treated. They organise in unions and demand changes. This will lead to a revolution and Socialism…

What is Socialism?

Socialism

Capitalism

In the Socialist revolution all the rulers – kings, churches, capitalists are got rid of.

The workers take control of the country to produce things for everyone.

Because nothing is made for profit, all people benefit from education and health.

These ideas spread across the world to create Communism….

What is Communism?

Socialism

Communism

The remaining capitalists put up a bitter fight, but the will of the people will always win.

As everyone now works together, war is a thing of the past – armies are not needed. Sharing means no police are needed. Everything is provided by the people – so money becomes a thing of the past.

All human activity goes towards benefiting each other – allowing all to live their lives to the full.

Communism Cartoon

Communism Cartoon

Main Ideas of Communism

1. Society is one where the society owns all property and people work together for the common good instead of working for individual gain

2. To each according to his needs and from each according to his abilities

Key Terms

• Bourgeoisie: The middle class capitalists. They own the factories, make a lot of money, and have power over their employees

• Proletariat: The working class who have no money or power, at the mercy of the Bourgeoisie

Steps to Communism

1. Proletariat will grow tired of the Bourgeoisie in power

2. They will rise up in bloody, violent revolution

3. A new society where wealth and power is shared is put in place

4. No class system will exist

Opinions of Communism

• What are some benefits of communism?

• What are some problems with communism?

• Would you love or hate communism?

Effects on the World

• Treaty of Versailles: worried communism would sweep through Germany

• Red Scare: worries that communism was infiltrating North America

• Why do you think people were (are) scared?