*****History*****
The Communist Manifesto was initially published in 1848 (in London), although the text was originally in German. The first English translation was created in 1850. It was commissioned by the Communist League and to lay out the League's intentions and program. The Manifesto had a great number of editions from 1872 to 1890, with important prefaces written by Marx and Engels for the 1872 German edition, 1882 Russian edition, 1883 German edition, 1888 English edition.

*****The Authors*****
Although the names of Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx appear as joint-authors, Engels has stated that it was "essentially Marx's work" Most recent researchers believe that "the actual drafting of The Communist Manifesto was done exclusively by Marx."

*****Synopsis*****
The Manifesto is separated into five sections. An introduction, three substantive sections and a conclusion.

**I. Bourgeois and Proletarians**

The first section, "Bourgeois and Proletarians", puts forward Marx's historical background to the Communist movement. It goes on to argue one of the most important parts of the ideology. Class struggle in capitalism occurs between those who own the means of production, which can be seen as the ruling class or bourgeoisie, and those who labour for a wage, which is the the working class or proletariat. The bourgeoisie has brought about the circumstances for its own ruin, as there is a contradiction between the forces of production and the relations of production:

"The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It ... has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked self-interest, than callous "cash payment" ... for exploitation, veiled by religious and political illusions, it has substituted naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation ... Constant revolutionizing of production, uninterrupted disturbance of all social conditions, everlasting uncertainty and agitation distinguish the bourgeois epoch from all earlier ones ... All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind."

**II. Proletarians and Communists**

The next section, "Proletarians and Communists," outlines the relationship of communists with the working class. It defends communism from various opposition arguments, like the claim that communists advocate "free love," and that people will not work in a communist society as they will have no incentive to work.
It ends by outlining short-term demands. These include;
- the abolition of land ownership and inheritance,
- a progressive income tax,
- universal education,
- centralization of the means of communication
- transport under state management
- expansion of the means of production owned by the state.
Implementing these would lead to a stateless and classless society.

It also deals with the transitional period. This idea from transferring socialism to communism has drawn many critics of the Manifesto, especially as the Soviet era is highlighted. Opposition have asked how an organization such as the revolutionary state could ever wither away.

The 10 Planks of the Communist Manifesto are also set out in this section:
1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equable distribution of the population over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production

**III. Socialist and Communist Literature**

The third section, "Socialist and Communist Literature," make a distinction between communism from other socialist doctrines that existed at the time. While the severity of Marx's and Engels' attacks varies, all rival beliefs are dismissed for being reformist whilst failing to identify the key role of the working class.

**IV. Position of the Communists in Relation to the Various Existing Opposition Parties**

The last section, "Position of the Communists in Relation to the Various Existing Opposition Parties," discusses the communist view on struggles of countries in the mid-nineteenth century. It then ends with a call:

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. They have a world to win.
WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!