Karl Marx was influenced by many experiences throughout his life. These influences shaped him into the man who would be the driving force behind one of the most unforgettable moments in history. Much of Marx's character came from his experiences as a child. When he was young, he displayed a lofty Christian idealism, paving his way into philosophical study. His father, since he was a lawyer, a constitutionalist, a democrat, and a Jew, drew much of the Prussian authorities' unwarranted suspicion. This probably led young Karl to consider the structure of the government and possibly even instill a healthy discontent with it.

Karl Marx was also an educated man; in 1836, he enrolled at the University of Berlin. There he learned about Georg Wilhelm Hegel and his Law of Thought, called the dia

In 1864, the International Working Men's Association (IWMA) was founded. It gave Marx the needed conduit for his revolutionary cause. Marx actually drew up the rules for the group, clearly advocating the gradual gain of power through parliamentary assemblies as the best means for freeing the proletariat in industrially advanced countries like Britain. With his strong opinions and stronger understanding of politics, Marx eventually became a member of the IWMA's general committee. This position gave him the clout he needed to present his ideas in 1870, such as strong support of the Paris Commune. This bold action drew the attention of all, especially the frightened French bourgeoisie. Unfortunately, his position in the IWMA was the height of his official political career. He underwent attack from both the right and left, with the working class unsupportive of his extreme measures, and others disliking any kind of authority, even a proletarian rule. With Marx's politica!

"Russian Revolution." Compton's Interactive Enclyclopedia. 1994 ed.

The revolution and proletarian rule, however utopian they were made out to be, were only the transition to Marx and Lenin. The final result would be a truly just society, self-regulated by its own perfection (de Bono 146). In Marx and Lenin's eyes, the ends justified the means. Otherwise, such measures would be totally unacceptable, and in the eyes of many, they still were. But it wasn't enough to stop the revolution.

Lenin's political career was the largest part of his life. He was the leader of the Bolshevik party, which was the key force in the Russian Revolution. After the revolution, he served as the head of the government until the Russian Civil War. In his early political career, though, he was almost as powerful. In 1893, he helped to form an organization known as the Union of Struggle. The Union of Struggle helped to embolden workers in their struggles against their employers, and was not dissimilar to democratic labor unions. However, under czarist rule, it was illegal, so Lenin was arrested and exiled to Siberia for three years.

Lenin graduated in the top of his high school class, and went on to the University of Kazan. There, he became involved in student protests. At one such protest, he was arrested. The guard asked him why he was rebelling, "After all, there is a wall in front of you." Lenin replied, "That wall is tottering, you only have to push it to knock it over" (Vail 18). Eventually, though, he was expelled for his political activities. Despite that expulsion, he went on to receive an honors law degree from St. Petersburg University in 1891.

On a personal level, Lenin was very confident. He had no doubt that his political beliefs would be proven correct. He pursued all controversies, friendly or not, with great zeal. He was vicious in debate, and totally inclusive in his criticisms. He was totally indifferent to his opponent's relation to him. He lost many allies that way, but he gained much respect.

l defeat, the IWMA lost all of its effectiveness, and eventually dissolved into nonexistence. Although Marx no longer had any official place in politics, working-class leaders from Germany, France, and Britain continued to consult him about their problems.

In order to understand Marx's view of Communism, it is necessary to understand Marx's view of Capitalism. To Marx, Capitalism separated man from his efforts, the products of his efforts, and himself. Capitalism ran in a cycle, beginning with the worker. The worker would produce more than what was necessary to pay for his wages. The extra production would accumulate as capital for bourgeois owner of the means of production. That capital would be used to make production more efficient, thus adding even more to the surplus production. This cycle would result in temporary exponential growth of value, leading to more profit. At the end of this temporary growth, however, wou

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