1. AIM: What is Communism?
Do Now: Answer the following question in 2-4 complete sentences. Is the United States a Capitalist country or a Communist country? How do you know...explain.
Sentence starters: The United States is a.....
I know this because.....

2. VOCABULARY Communism com·mu·nism Capitalism cap·i·tal·ism
An economic system where there is collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
Capitalism
cap·i·tal·ism
An economic system where production and distribution are privately or corporately owned.

3. Sickle for the Peasants – the farm labourers
What is Communism?
This is the symbol of Communism – The Hammer and the Sickle
Hammer for the
Workers
Sickle for the Peasants – the farm labourers
Who are these blokes?

4. This is his good friend, Frederick Engels.
What is Communism?
‘Those Blokes’ wrote the ‘Communist Manifesto’
in It’s a short book – but billions of people have read it….
This is Karl Marx, the ‘Father of Communism’. People who believe in his ideas are called ‘Marxists’
This is his good friend, Frederick Engels.

5. What is Communism?
Marx and Engels studied the history of the world’s economies.
This means the way that power, industry and finance are controlled.
They saw the way countries developed in stages.
Communism
Socialism
Capitalism
Feudalism
Explain these please!
Primitive
Communism

6. What is Communism?
This is how humans first lived together – in small tribes. Primitive means ‘not very advanced’ e.g. hunting and gathering. Communism means that everything was shared amongst the tribe – food, jobs, belongings. No-one owned land. Eventually a group comes to power – this leads to Feudalism…
Primitive
Communism

7. What is Communism?
Under feudalism, a king or emperor or chief becomes the ruler over all the people.
He gives land and privileges to ‘nobles’ who rule the people for him.
The people are kept uneducated and told that god chose the king to rule. The church helps the king this way.
Feudalism
As trade develops, some people get richer. This leads to Capitalism…..
Primitive
Communism

8. What is Communism?
The capitalists get more power to serve their own interests.
The business owners or capitalists get richer while the workers do all the hard work.
Capitalism
Feudalism
Capitalism creates a huge working-class of people who soon get angry at the way they are treated. They organise in unions and demand changes. This will lead to a revolution and Socialism…

9. What is Communism?
Because nothing is made for profit, all people benefit from education and health.
The workers take control of the country to produce things for everyone.
Socialism
These ideas spread across the world to create Communism….
Capitalism
In the Socialist revolution all the rulers – kings, churches, capitalists are got rid of.

10. Summary Question
If Marxist ideas of Communism are meant to serve everyone equally, why do you think the United States has a Capitalist government?
Answer on exit card.