Karl Marx wrote in the Communist Manifesto that “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” Analyze the quote and select the statement about events in France during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that best supports this argument.

Conservatives supported the Bourbon Restoration.

Women led a march on the Palace of Versailles to demand cheaper bread prices.

Napoleon was defeated by the British at the Battle of Waterloo.

The Second French Republic granted universal suffrage to all men.

1 answer

To analyze Karl Marx's quote, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles," it is essential to consider the dynamics of social, economic, and political conflict between different classes. This perspective emphasizes the tensions and conflicts between various social groups, particularly those concerning economic interests, power, and social status.

Among the provided statements, the one that best supports Marx's argument is:

Women led a march on the Palace of Versailles to demand cheaper bread prices.

This event, known as the Women's March on Versailles in 1789, was deeply rooted in class struggles. It highlighted the struggles of the common people (particularly the working class and women) against the ruling class (the monarchy and the elite). The march was driven by dire economic conditions, including rising bread prices and shortages, and it was a direct response to the inequalities and hardships faced by the lower classes. This reflects the core idea of Marx's assertion that history is shaped by the conflicts and struggles between different social classes.

The other statements, while notable events in French history, do not directly exemplify class struggle in the same way. For instance, the Bourbon Restoration was a conservative reactionary movement, Napoleon's defeat represents geopolitical dynamics rather than class conflict, and the granting of universal suffrage, while significant, does not specifically indicate a struggle between distinct social classes in the way that the Women's March does.