Oklahoma Academic Standard 3. The student will analyze the political, economic, and social transformations brought about by the events of the age of revolutions and imperialism (1750-1900 CE).

Objective 3.4  Analyze how the Industrial Revolution gave rise to socialism and communism, including ideas and influence of Karl Marx.

In a Nutshell

Students should examine the shift from largely rural to urban European settlement patterns during the Industrial Revolution which gave rise to social and economic injustices and contributed to new schools of thought on the role of government, such as socialism and communism. Students should understand the conditions which prompted some individuals to seek radical reforms, however flawed.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Assist students in analyzing the causes and  consequences of various economic policies. 
• Guide students in evaluating how the expanding use of scarce resources contributed to the creation of new economic schools of thought. 

• Draw upon gathered information to analyze how a specific problem can manifest itself in local, regional, and global levels over time, evaluating options for individual and collective solutions.

• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different types of economic systems.

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• private versus public ownership of law and means of production

• harsh and unsafe working conditions, lack of regulation, exploitation of working class by capitalists, accumulation of wealth, income gap, poverty, political upheaval and corruption 

• concepts and impact of Karl Marx  and his Communist Manifesto; radical aspects of Marxism such as class struggles and violent revolution

• vision of utopian societies, including the ideas of Robert Owens

• Many students confuse Marx’s ideas on communism with Soviet attempts at implementing Marxist ideals, requiring clarification between economic philosophy and actual practices.  

Instructional Resources