Karl Marx and communism
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the political thought of the philosopher Karl Marx and explain its influence on European politics.
Key learning points
- The philosopher Karl Marx developed an influential theory about communism.
- Marx concluded that the working classes were exploited by those who owned property.
- Marx described the workers as the proletariat and the property-owners as the bourgeoisie.
- Marx envisioned this class conflict would end in revolution.
- Marxist thought inspired socialist movements throughout the world, including in Russia.
Keywords
Communist - something is communist if it relates to the belief that wealth should be shared equally and people should be treated as equals
Capitalist - something is capitalist if it relates to a system where some people own industry privately and make profit for themselves
Bourgeoisie - the bourgeoisie are members of the middle classes
Proletariat - the proletariat are members of the industrial working classes
Aristocracy - the aristocracy are the highest social class, usually in countries that have a royal family
Common misconception
Students assume all communists and socialists shared the same ideas.
Marx's ideas were interpreted differently by different groups of socialists. In Russia, this led to the split of the Social Democratic Party.
Teacher tip
Alternative for task B: provide students with images/illustrations representing aristocracy (i.e. crown), bourgeoisie and proletariat. Students identify which group each illustration represents; then order according to Marx's stages of history.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. Historians usually use the word to describe periods of time which experience significant changes, such as the overthrow of a system of government.
Q2.What happened to the King Louis XVI during the French Revolution?
Q3.Which word is most appropriate for describing someone who refuses to accept or support political reform and social progress?
Q4.Write the missing word. During the Industrial Revolution, many cotton mills employed to clean the tight spaces beneath their machines.
Q5.Which statement about living conditions during the Industrial Revolution is most accurate?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. Karl developed the idea of communism in the 19th century.
Q2.Match each keyword with its correct definition.
the upper classes
the middle classes
the industrial working classes
Q3.According to Marx, which group owned most of the property in an industrialised capitalist society?
Q4.The Social Democratic Party (SPD) became the largest political party in which country by 1912?
Q5.Why did Marx think a proletarian revolution in Russia was not likely to happen for a long time?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order according to Marx's theories.
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Karl Marx and communism, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Karl Marx and communism, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Russian Revolution: did communism completely transform Russian society? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.