Karl Marx

Who Was Karl Marx?

Karl Marx was a philosopher, economist, and revolutionary socialist whose ideas significantly influenced the course of modern history. While studying sociopolitical theories at university, Marx became involved with the Young Hegelians, a group known for their radical critiques of religion and politics. His early career as a journalist and socialist writer led to his expulsion from Germany and France due to his controversial ideas. In 1848, Marx collaborated with Friedrich Engels to publish The Communist Manifesto, which became one of the most influential political documents in history. Following further political exile, Marx settled in London, where he completed the first volume of Das Kapital and spent the rest of his life developing his revolutionary theories on capitalism and class struggle.

Early Life

Karl Heinrich Marx was born on May 5, 1818, in Trier, Prussia, the third of nine children to Heinrich and Henrietta Marx. His father, a successful lawyer with a strong admiration for Enlightenment thinkers like Kant and Voltaire, was a proponent of liberal reform in Prussia. Although the Marx family was of Jewish descent with a long rabbinical lineage, Heinrich converted to Lutheranism in 1816, likely due to legal restrictions placed on Jews at the time. His conversion was a pragmatic choice, as it allowed him to maintain his professional standing, although he personally valued the intellectual freedom associated with Protestantism.

Marx’s early education was typical for a child of his social standing. He was educated at home until the age of 12 and then attended the Friedrich-Wilhelm Gymnasium in Trier. The school’s principal, a friend of Marx’s father, was a liberal thinker whose views aligned with the reformist spirit of the time. Despite the school being under surveillance due to its liberal inclinations, Marx completed his studies there in 1835.

Education and Intellectual Development

In the fall of 1835, Marx enrolled at the University of Bonn. Known for its vibrant student life, Bonn offered Marx the opportunity to engage in both academic and social activities, though he often found himself in trouble. During his two semesters there, he was imprisoned for drunkenness, involved in a duel, and accumulated significant debts. Concerned about his son’s behavior, Marx’s father persuaded him to transfer to the University of Berlin, which had a more serious academic reputation.

At Berlin, Marx studied law and philosophy, where he encountered the works of G.W.F. Hegel, a prominent philosopher whose ideas shaped much of Marx’s later thinking. Initially skeptical of Hegel’s philosophy, Marx soon became a key member of the Young Hegelians, a group of radical intellectuals who challenged the political and religious institutions of the time. Marx’s involvement with this group helped him formulate the foundation of his revolutionary ideas.

During this period, Marx also became secretly engaged to Jenny von Westphalen, a woman from a prominent Trier family. Their engagement was a source of tension within Marx’s family, particularly for his father, who worried about Marx’s ability to provide for Jenny given his increasingly radical politics and uncertain career prospects.

Career and Political Activism

Marx earned his doctorate from the University of Jena in 1841, but his political views made it impossible for him to secure a teaching position. He turned to journalism, becoming the editor of the Rheinische Zeitung, a liberal newspaper in Cologne, in 1842. Under Marx’s leadership, the newspaper became increasingly critical of the Prussian government, leading to its eventual suppression in 1843. Shortly after resigning as editor, Marx married Jenny von Westphalen and moved to Paris, where he began to fully immerse himself in revolutionary socialist movements. This marked the beginning of Marx’s lifelong struggle to develop and promote his theories on capitalism, class struggle, and socialism.

Marx’s legacy, defined by works like The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, remains pivotal to understanding modern social, political, and economic thought. His ideas laid the groundwork for various socialist and communist movements around the world, influencing political revolutions and the development of state systems throughout the 20th century.

Paris: The Birth of Marx’s Political Activism (1843)

In 1843, Paris stood as the political center of Europe, where Karl Marx, alongside Arnold Ruge, launched a political journal titled Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher (German-French Annals). Despite publishing only one issue due to philosophical differences between Marx and Ruge, the journal proved significant. It was through this platform that Marx connected with Friedrich Engels in August 1844, forming a partnership that would last a lifetime. Their first collaboration was a critique of Bruno Bauer’s philosophy, resulting in the publication of The Holy Family in 1845.

Later that year, Marx faced expulsion from France while working for the radical newspaper Vorwärts!, which was closely tied to an emerging organization that would later evolve into the Communist League. Marx then relocated to Belgium, continuing his political journey.

Brussels: Marx’s Break from Hegelian Philosophy (1845–1848)

In Brussels, Marx was introduced to socialism by Moses Hess and fully distanced himself from the Young Hegelians. During this time, he wrote The German Ideology, where he introduced his theory of historical materialism. Despite its significance, Marx struggled to find a publisher, and both The German Ideology and Theses on Feuerbach (written in the same period) were published only after his death.

In early 1846, Marx founded the Communist Correspondence Committee, aiming to connect socialists across Europe. His influence reached England, where socialists formed the Communist League. In 1847, at a Central Committee meeting in London, Marx and Engels were tasked with drafting the Manifesto of the Communist Party, which was published in 1848. Following its release, Marx was expelled from Belgium and subsequently deported from France after attempting to engage with revolutionary movements. Unable to return to Prussia, he settled in London.

London: Marx’s Intellectual Legacy and Final Years (1849–1883)

In London, Marx co-founded the German Workers’ Educational Society and helped establish a new headquarters for the Communist League. He continued to write prolifically, contributing as a journalist, notably serving as a correspondent for the New York Daily Tribune from 1852 to 1862. Despite his prolific work, he struggled financially, relying heavily on Engels for support.

Marx’s intellectual focus shifted towards capitalism and economic theory, culminating in the publication of the first volume of Das Kapital in 1867. He spent the remainder of his life revising and drafting manuscripts for the subsequent volumes, which were published posthumously by Engels.

Death and Legacy

Karl Marx died in London on March 14, 1883, from pleurisy. His original grave was modest, marked only by a small stone, but in 1954, the Communist Party of Great Britain erected a large tombstone with a bust of Marx. The stone bears the final line from The Communist Manifesto — “Workers of all lands, unite!” — as well as a quote from Theses on Feuerbach, commemorating Marx’s enduring impact on political and economic thought.