-
Birth of Karl Heinrich Marx
On May 5, 1818 Karl Marx is born to parents Heinrich and Henrietta Marx in Trier, Prussia. Heinrich is a successful lawyer who descended from a long line of rabies, but converted to Christianity as it was harder for Jews to rise to high society. Karl was one of nine children born to his parents. All of the kids were baptized Christian but his mother wasn't baptized until 1825. (Biography.com Editors) -
Símon Bolivar Liberates New Granada
In the Spring of 1819 Símon Bolivar planned his campaign to take control of the region of New Granada. This region is known now as Columbia, Venezuela, Panama and Ecuador. The Gran Colombia was established at the congress of Cúcuta, where Bolivar was also named president. This event led to many other South American Countries gaining independence and saw the Spanish colonial era close. (Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia) (Infoplease). -
Marx Attends Berlin University
After two semesters at the University of Bonn, Karl began attending the Humboldt University of Berlin. The university of Bonn was more laid back and rambunctious and Karl's dad wanted him to attend a more serious university (Biography.com). At the university Marx joined a group known as the Young Hegelians. The group helped to shape Marx's early philosophy. Eventually he dropped their ideas, but his beliefs early on were shaped by the group.(Byers, Paula K) -
Karl Marx Marries
After a long 7 year engagement to Jenny von Westphalen. She was a well liked women known for her intelligence and good looks. Her family was very distinguished coming from a strong military background (McLellan, David T., and Lewis S. Feuer). Marx's father was afraid of him not taking the marriage seriously and his true demons would show (Editors, Biography.com). These fears were shown to be untrue as they were married until Jenny until her death in 1881, and they had 7 children together. -
Karl Marx Moves to Paris
Shortly after marrying his wife Marx moved to Paris. Here Karl started a political journal but only one issue was published before conflicts with the co-founder Arnold Ruge caused the publication to be stopped. But this journal led Marx to Friedrich Engles who would become his lifelong friend (Biography.com). Engles would continue to support Marx throughout his career. Engles was able to articulate Marx's thoughts to the public. He also supported Marx financially through his life (Kort, Michael) -
Marx Moves to Brussels
After a year in Paris Karl Marx was forced out of France because of another radical newspaper he published (Biography.com Editors). During his time in Brussels Marx dropped his beliefs of the Young Hegelian and adopted the beliefs of communism. He collaborated with his communism mentor Moses Hess to publish the book The Holy Family. The book truly showed Marx's new beliefs as the book critiqued the idealism of Hegelians of Bruno Baur. (McLellan, David T., and Lewis S. Feuer) -
Creation of the Communist Correspondence
While in Brussels Marx continued to work with the ideas of communism. He went as far as creating the organization The Communist Correspondence Committee with Engles. The Correspondences goal was to link up communists all across Europe and the world. The League helped to expose people to the ideas of communism and eventually led to the creation of the communist league (Shmidt, Academician). -
Publication of the Communist Manifesto
In June of 1847 Marx joined the secret society League of the Just, who later changed their name to the Communist League. Marx along with Engels we tasked with compiling all of the group's ideals into a program. After only two months the Communist Manifesto was finished in January of 1848. The Manifesto is Karl Marx's most well known work and its influence is incredible.The book had many world changing effects like the Russian Revolution. (McLellan, David T., and Lewis S. Feuer) -
Marx moves to London
In 1849 Marx was forced out of Belgium so he moved back to France. Only after a few months he was kicked out of France too. He was denied citizenship in his home country of Prussia, so he moved to London. At this point he was a stateless person as he had no citizenship anywhere. He requested citizenship from England but was again denied. England was rough for Marx and his family, if it were not for the financial support of Engels he would have died. (Byers, Paula K) -
Period: to
Karl Marx's Work in London
While in London Karl Marx published Das Kapital. This book helped to further explain the evils of capitalism and the consequences of the economic system. It's up there with the Communist Manifesto as one of his most popular books, and his proudest work. During this time Marx also worked with the New York Daily Tribune. This allowed him to work with American politics and to know the culture. He worked with the Tribune from 1852-1862. (Biography.com Editors)(McLellan, David T., and Lewis S. Feuer) -
The Beginning of the Civil War
The Civil War began with Confederate soldiers attacking Union soldiers at Fort Sumter in North Carolina. This conflict will set off 4 years of the bloodiest battle in American history. The southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederacy over major differences between the slave owning and non-slave owning states. The war would change the course of both national and international history (American Battlefield). -
End of the American Civil War
In spring of 1865 the Civil War came to an end after a long 4 years. The end of the war reunited the United States and brought an end to slavery. Although slavery was abolished, racial tensions continued into the 20th century. Shortly after the war president Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, leading to the presidency of Andrew Johnson. The Civil War was probably the most important event in the foundation of America's identity. (American Battlefield) -
Completion of the US transcontinental railroad
After a long 7 years the US transcontinental railroad was completed. This was an enormous undertaking and investment by the United States Government. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad Companies were responsible for the construction, each starting at a different side of the country. The project took 1,200 lives and costs an estimate $36-$60 million. The railroad changed America drastically, and for the first time people could travel across America fast and cheap (History.com editors) -
Construction of the Suez Canal
The construction of the modern Suez Canal began 1859 with the development headed by Frenchmen Ferdinand de Lesseps. The construction took 10 years, more than the planned 6. Outbreaks of Cholera and extreme temperatures hindered workers and use of hand tool and hard labour didn't help the issue. The Suez Canal helped to save miles of travel between Europe and southern Asia and greatly expanded trade potential, and global communication. (Fisher, William B., and Charles Gordon Smith) (Infoplease) -
Invention of Edison's Light bulb
While Edison wasn't the first to make or think of the electrical light bulb, he pushed the idea farther and farther than anyone else. He experimented with many ideas before making the incandescent bulb that has lighted the world since the 1800s. The lightbulb changed life drastically, sure you could do with a candle but the light bulb helped to supply a constant source of bright light. His version also lasted very long, being the dominant electric light until the LED. (Matulka, Rebecca) -
The Death of Karl Marx
In his later years Marx mental sharpness took a considerable decline until his death. He died of pleurisy and was at first buried in a simple grave, but was donated a complex one by the Communist Party of Great Britain. Marx's ideas carried on to influence the world years after his death. His work is responsible for many incredible things including the foundation of the Soviet Union. Two more editions of Das Kapital were published by his friend Engels after his death. (Biography.com Editors)
You are not authorized to access this page.
