Sam Attianese 

Karl Marx believed that society was broken up into four main classes, the bourgeoisie, petty bourgeoisie, proletariat, and the peasants. Each class was made up of different individuals who shared similar careers, political interests, lifestyles, etc. The class with the most power and money was known as the bourgeoisie, they dominated society and employed many of the individuals in classes. The class that made up the laborers in bourgeoisie-owned factories, also known as, the “modern working class,” was known as the proletariat. This class was made up of working laborers and generally lived in poverty. The proletariat was not well off within the country and could only survive as long as there was work in factories for them to complete. They were the people who manned the machines and produced much of the goods for Europe. The proletariat also faced a lot of hardships throughout this time period due to the complete imbalance of power within most European governments. The working class was dominated by the bourgeoisie and petty bourgeoisie, those who owned most of society’s wealth, and the factories in which the proletariat would work. Marx argued that the proletariat became a class because of the union created by everyone having similar jobs and working in factories together. An abundance of individuals with similar livelihoods brought them together as a social class that relied on jobs from factories owned by the bourgeoisie to survive. Marx claimed that the proletariat was the most important class 

The proletariat generally lives paycheck to paycheck, making just enough money to survive. Due to this, the material interests of the class are basically nonexistent. The proletariat does not have any significant ownership of property or the means of production within society. The main ownership they have is that of their labor skills which they can use to make their wages.

The political interests of the proletariat were very important, due to how large this social class was. They did not have nearly as much power as the wealthy members of the bourgeoisie; however, their population was significantly higher. The population of the proletariat continues to grow as society begins to become more advanced. With the industrialization of the factory system in Europe, machines started to reduce the work necessary for labor workers. As workers began to be laid off, the proletariat began to grow in numbers. Individuals were losing their ability to feed themselves and their families; this stirred the pot for change within the proletariat. Marx stated, “with the development of industry, the proletariat not only increases in number; it becomes concentrated in greater masses, its strength grows, and it feels that strength more.” (The Communist Manifesto 19) In realizing this strength, members of the proletariat began to form unions where they would demand higher wages from the bourgeoisie. Fighting against the power of the bourgeoisie allowed for the proletariat to become a revolutionary class, in which they were able to show that the bourgeoisie was no longer fit to have the power within society. The proletariat was being exploited under capitalism, and Marx argued that they wanted to overturn the capitalist cities and set up a communist society in which there were no class distinctions. Marx also emphasizes the fact that the proletariat is the most influential class in Europe because without the proletariat the bourgeoisie would not have any laborers to work their factories. This power allowed the proletariat to gain power and positioning within Europe as they fought for change in the political system. A leader of the proletariat party, Auguste Blanqui had attempted to lead the Proletariats into protest and political unrest against the bourgeoisie; however, he was never truly successful in his acts of revolution and protest. He provided leadership for the people of the proletariat class; looking to help the proletariat abolish the economic inequity in Europe. Auguste Blanqui attempted to take charge of a class that did not have much representation, he tried to take charge of their revolutionary mindset and lead them toward their goal of overthrowing the bourgeoisie. 

Marx states early on in The Communist Manifesto, “The modern bourgeois society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class antagonisms. It has but established new classes, new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of the old ones.” (The Communist Manifesto 14) The class conflict in Europe was a breaking point for society; as the 19th century unfolded, individuals began to express their unhappiness with the bourgeoisie; and the proletariat was willing to fight for change. They wanted higher wages, better working conditions, and a society that wasn’t dominated by the class system.