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Birth of Marx
Marx became the main developer of a system of thought that had a major world wide influence on the development of Communist political systems -
Fredrich Engels Becomes Communist
Engels turn to Communism leads to shared beliefs with Marx, setting them up to become co-writers -
Marx and Engels meet
The two meet each other and develop friendship based on shared values. Engels became a major influence of the writing of Marx, contributing his critical views to the development of key ideas of what was to become Marxist thought. -
Marx and Engels write The Communist Manifesto
“The Communist Manifesto” is the main writing of the Marxist Philosophy. It introduced key concepts including exploitation and alienation of the working class, the Labour Theory of Value, ideology, and class consciousness. It promoted working class revolution as a means for social change towards a more developed Communist system. -
Marx and Engels publish Das Kapital
This book outlined their theory of political economy and critique of capitalism. Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto come to define ‘Classical Marxism’. -
Das Kapital translated to Russian
Marx formed relationships with Russian socialists who later helped Lenin rise to power and form the first formal Communist state. -
Karl Marx dies
After Marx's passing Engels edits the last 2 volumes of Das Kapital which were originally produced by Marx, and has these published to the world. -
Russian Revolution
This was the first large scale try at putting Marxist thought about a worker’s state into action. This revolt was led by Lenin (1870-1924) and his Bolshevik Party. Their actions led to formation of Soviet Union under the leadership of Lenin, but there were other failed attempts to establish communist states in Germany and other European countries. -
Lenin Rules Russia (1917-1924)
Lenin is the ruler of Russia during this time period and he rules for a total of 7 years. Lenin incorporated Marxism into political action within Russia and in Russians international relations, and formed Soviet Marxism as the code of the Communist party in the newly named Soviet Union. -
Communist Party of Canada
Marxist ideas brought over by British intellecuals and Eastern European immigrants take root in Canadian society and the Communist Party of Canada is founded. -
Stalin rules Russia (1924-1953)
After Lenin's death, Stalin gains control and modifies Marxist thought and the Communist system. Although he continued to oppose capitalism, he called for a revolution from above and implemented a dictatorship that used repression. He centralized power and moved away from many tenets of Marxist thought. -
Chinese Communists
Mao and his party of Communists come into power in China bringing development of Maoism as a new kind of Marxism.They then melded Marxist thought with fundamentals of Chinese culture. Mao emphasized the need for the people to constantly struggle against bureaucracy, corruption, waste and traditional bourgeois classes. This helped lead to a Cultural Revolution in 1966 with a strong military outlook and a focus on protectionism. -
Warsaw Pact established
Stalin the new dictator of The Soviet Union establishes, using the military, Communist regimes in several Eastern and Central European countries to create buffer zone between Russia and the Western World. Areas where Communism gained power include East Germany, Albania, Ethiopia, Yemen, Yugoslavia, and Cambodia. -
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro leads a revolution in Cuba and comes into power. He identifies his form of political structure with that of Marxism-Leninism, and stands against bureaucracy, dogmatism and political, economic and social injustice. He mixed the ideas presented by Marx with those of a Southern American theorist named Bolivar -
Rise of Eurocommunism
This decade sees the rise of a moderate version used to try to build a broad base of support for Marxist thought and Communism in Europe. This movement was seen in Italy, France, and Spain. Instead of revolution, this movement focused on peaceful democratic reformation towards socialism; however, it was largely abandoned by the start of the 1980s. -
Solidarity in Poland
The people of Poland through their political party called Solidarity get rid of the Communist party from having the majority in their government. A democratic state is established in its place. -
Gorbachev becomes leader of Soviet Union
Gorbachev institutes reforms aimed at a less antagonistic form of Communism and works to form more positive relations with the West. He repeals the Brezhnev Doctrine, thus indicating that Russia would not use military force if a member of Warsaw Pact revolted and chose to leave. -
Soviet Union Dissolves
Other Eastern European counties start fighting back either diplomatically or physically against the presence of the Soviet Union as their overlord leading to its collapse. Most Eastern European countries turn away from Communism, while Russia adopts a softer approach to Communism. -
Resurgence of Marxism (2000-modern day)
Growing scholarly and political interest in Marxism given numerous financial crises resulting from capitalist systems and growing inequality between the rich and poor.
