communism – Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help

By the 1800s many countries followed the economic system called capitalism. Under capitalism, individual people, called capitalists, own property and run companies. Some capitalists became rich but paid their workers very little. In response, many workers began supporting the ideas of socialism. In a socialist system, the government owns companies and divides wealth more fairly among the people. Karl Marx, a German thinker of the 1800s, took socialist ideas one step further. Marxs ideas became the basis of Communism.

Marx called the workers the proletariat. Marx thought that some day the workers would lead a revolution and overthrow the capitalists. After taking control, the proletariat would become the new ruling class. At first there would be a dictatorship of the proletariat to defeat all opposition. Then a true Communist society would develop. This would include common ownership of property and no government. People would work to produce wealth according to their abilities. Everyone would share in this wealth according to their needs.

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communism - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help

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