The Completion of The Communist Manifesto (Misdated Claim)

While November 19, 1847, is often mistakenly cited in some sources, the completion and publication of “The Communist Manifesto” did not occur on this date. Instead, the critical events surrounding this seminal work are detailed below for accuracy.

Background

“The Communist Manifesto” was commissioned as a political pamphlet by the Communist League, an international political party aimed at unifying workers under a common political cause. The League tasked Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels with drafting a comprehensive statement of principles for the nascent communist movement.

Correct Timeline

The Communist League’s Second Congress, which took place in London from November 29 to December 8, 1847, was pivotal. During this congress, Marx and Engels were formally commissioned to author the manifesto. Subsequently, the writing and formulation of the manifesto took place during late 1847 and into early 1848.

The final manuscript was completed in late January 1848. The pamphlet was officially published in London on February 21, 1848.

Content and Impact

“The Communist Manifesto” iteratively describes the history of all hitherto existing society as the history of class struggles. Marx and Engels proposed the theory of historical materialism, which analyzed the development of society through the lens of economic and class relations.

Key Points:

• Class Struggle: The document argues for the inevitable struggle between the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class).
• Abolition of Private Property: Central to its ideology is the call for the abolition of bourgeois private property, which Marx and Engels identified as the root cause of society’s inequalities.
• Critique of Capitalism: The manifesto critiques the structures of capitalism, predicting its eventual downfall and replacement by socialism and eventually communism.
• Call for Action: It concludes with a rallying cry for workers worldwide to unite and revolt against their oppressors.

Aftermath

The manifesto gained significant traction as revolutions spread across Europe in 1848. Although these immediate uprisings did not lead to the wide-scale adoption of communist principles, the document gained historical prominence and played a critical role in shaping political ideologies in the following centuries.

Marx and Engels continued to refine their theories, with the manifesto remaining a foundational text in Marxist thought and socialist movements globally. Its influence is seen in numerous 20th-century revolutions and the establishment of communist governments worldwide.

While the exact date of its completion is often debated, the documented history surrounding “The Communist Manifesto” firmly situates its key moments and influence within these detailed timelines.