Introduction / Context:
The Communist Manifesto is one of the most influential political pamphlets in modern history. Written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, it laid out the principles of communism and scientific socialism, calling on workers of the world to unite against capitalist exploitation. This question asks in which year the first Communist Manifesto was issued. Knowing this date helps students connect the rise of socialist ideas with the wave of revolutions and political unrest that swept Europe in the nineteenth century.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers specifically to the first Communist Manifesto.
- It asks for the year when this document was issued.
- The options include various years associated with different historical events.
- The learner is expected to link the manifesto with the period of mid nineteenth century revolutions.
Concept / Approach:
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote The Communist Manifesto in the context of rising industrial capitalism and worker unrest. It was published in 1848, the same year as a series of revolutions that broke out across Europe. The pamphlet summarised the historical materialist view of history and called for the overthrow of bourgeois rule. History and political science textbooks consistently date the first Communist Manifesto to 1848, making this year the correct answer.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Karl Marx lived in the nineteenth century and that his early political writings appeared before his major work on economics.
2. Remember that 1848 is famous as a year of revolutions in Europe, and The Communist Manifesto is often linked to this revolutionary atmosphere.
3. Review the options and identify 1848 as one of the choices.
4. Recognise that 1867 is associated with the publication of Das Kapital, not with the first Communist Manifesto.
5. Eliminate other years, such as 1830, 1815, and 1917, which relate to different events like revolutions, congresses, or the Russian Revolution, and then select 1848.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, learners can compare the dates of Marx works. The Communist Manifesto is a short pamphlet published well before his detailed economic analysis of capitalism. Das Kapital, Volume I, appeared in 1867, making that year too late for the manifesto. The Russian Revolution of 1917 occurred long after Marx death and is associated with the practical implementation of some of his ideas. The match between 1848 and The Communist Manifesto is repeated in almost all general knowledge and political science sources, confirming it as the correct year.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1830 is an important year for European revolutions but does not correspond to the publication of The Communist Manifesto, which came later.
1867 is the year often given for the publication of Das Kapital, not the manifesto, so it cannot be correct here.
1917 is the year of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which was influenced by Marxism but took place many decades after the manifesto was first issued.
1815 is associated with the Congress of Vienna and the end of the Napoleonic Wars, long before Marx and Engels wrote their pamphlet.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the dates of different Marxist writings or mix up the year of the Russian Revolution with the year of the manifesto. Others may know that both 1848 and 1867 are connected with Marx but forget which work belongs to which date. A good way to avoid confusion is to remember the slogan of 1848 revolutions combined with the Communist Manifesto and to keep 1867 reserved in memory for Das Kapital. This simple pairing helps ensure that 1848 is chosen correctly in exam questions about the first Communist Manifesto.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is
1848.
Discussion & Comments