Question

"The modern laborer, on the contrary, instead of rising with the progress of industry, sinks deeper and deeper below the conditions of existence of his own class. He becomes a pauper, and pauperism develops more rapidly than population and wealth. And here it becomes evident that the bourgeoisie is unfit any longer to be the ruling class in society and to impose its conditions of existence upon society as an over-riding law. The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains."
- excerpt from the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels, 1848

Which statement best explains why Russia adopted the political ideology being referenced in the passage?
A) Russian serfs wanted to abolish serfdom
B) discontentment after years of monarchist rule
C) the need to protect private property from the bourgeoisie class
D) political reformers wanted Russia to become more modern and industrialized

Answer 1

Answer: The answer is B) Discontentment after years of monarchist rule.

Explanation: The Communist Manifest was written as a political ideology to address the needs of the working class in Germany where rapid industrialization and had led to social inequalities. Russia also had social inequalities that were spurred on by industrialization but also by years of czarist rule with little accountability. The Russian Revolution was in part to overthrow the Romanov dynasty and create social reforms for the lower class. Serfdom had been abolished in 1861 although it did not alleviate many of the problems for former serfs.