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everywhere reduces wages to the same low level。 The growing
competition among the bourgeois； and the resulting commercial
crises； make the wages of the workers ever more fluctuating。 The
unceasing improvement of machinery； ever more rapidly developing；
makes their livelihood more and more precarious； the collisions
between individual workmen and individual bourgeois take more and
more the character of collisions between two classes。 Thereupon
the workers begin to form combinations （Trades Unions） against
the bourgeois； they club together in order to keep up the rate of
wages； they found permanent associations in order to make
provision beforehand for these occasional revolts。 Here and
there the contest breaks out into riots。
Now and then the workers are victorious； but only for a time。
The real fruit of their battles lies； not in the immediate
result； but in the ever…expanding union of the workers。 This
union is helped on by the improved means of communication that
are created by modern industry and that place the workers of
different localities in contact with one another。 It was just
this contact that was needed to centralise the numerous local
struggles； all of the same character； into one national struggle
between classes。 But every class struggle is a political
struggle。 And that union； to attain which the burghers of the
Middle Ages； with their miserable highways； required centuries；
the modern proletarians； thanks to railways； achieve in a few
years。
This organisation of the proletarians into a class； and
consequently into a political party； is continually being upset
again by the competition between the workers themselves。 But it
ever rises up again； stronger； firmer； mightier。 It compels
legislative recognition of particular interests of the workers；
by taking advantage of the divisions among the bourgeoisie
itself。 Thus the ten…hours' bill in England was carried。
Altogether collisions between the classes of the old society
further； in many ways； the course of development of the
proletariat。
The bourgeoisie finds itself involved in a constant battle。
At first with the aristocracy； later on； with those portions
of the bourgeoisie itself； whose interests have become
antagonistic
to the progress of industry； at all times； with the bourgeoisie
of foreign countries。 In all these battles it sees itself
compelled
to appeal to the proletariat； to ask for its help； and thus； to
drag
it into the political arena。 The bourgeoisie itself； therefore；
supplies the proletariat with its own instruments of political
and general education； in other words； it furnishes the
proletariat
with weapons for fighting the bourgeoisie。
Further； as we have already seen； entire sections of the ruling
classes are； by the advance of industry； precipitated into the
proletariat； or are at least threatened in their conditions of
existence。 These also supply the proletariat with fresh elements
of enlightenment and progress。
Finally； in times when the class struggle nears the decisive
hour； the process of dissolution going on within the ruling
class； in fact within the whole range of society； assumes such a
violent； glaring character； that a small section of the ruling
class cuts itself adrift； and joins the revolutionary class； the
class that holds the future in its hands。 Just as； therefore； at
an earlier period； a section of the nobility went over to the
bourgeoisie； so now a portion of the bourgeoisie goes over to the
proletariat； and in particular； a portion of the bourgeois
ideologists； who have raised themselves to the level of
comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole。
Of all the classes that stand face to face with the bourgeoisie
today； the proletariat alone is a really revolutionary class。
The other classes decay and finally disappear in the face of
Modern Industry； the proletariat is its special and essential
product。 The lower middle class； the small manufacturer； the
shopkeeper； the artisan； the peasant； all these fight against the
bourgeoisie； to save from extinction their existence as fractions
of the middle class。 They are therefore not revolutionary； but
conservative。 Nay more； they are reactionary； for they try to
roll back the wheel of history。 If by chance they are
revolutionary； they are so only in view of their impending
transfer into the proletariat； they thus defend not their
present； but their future interests； they desert their own
standpoint to place themselves at that of the proletariat。
The 〃dangerous class；〃 the social scum； that passively rotting
mass thrown off by the lowest layers of old society； may； here
and there； be swept into the movement by a proletarian
revolution； its conditions of life； however； prepare it far more
for the part of a bribed tool of reactionary intrigue。
In the conditions of the proletariat； those of old society at
large are already virtually swamped。 The proletarian is without
property； his relation to his wife and children has no longer
anything in common with the bourgeois family…relations； modern
industrial labour； modern subjection to capital； the same in
England as in France； in America as in Germany； has stripped him
of every trace of national character。 Law； morality； religion；
are to him so many bourgeois prejudices； behind which lurk in
ambush just as many bourgeois interests。
All the preceding classes that got the upper hand； sought to
fortify their already acquired status by subjecting society at
large to their conditions of appropriation。 The proletarians
cannot become masters of the productive forces of society； except
by abolishing their own previous mode of appropriation； and
thereby also every other previous mode of appropriation。 They
have nothing of their own to secure and to fortify； their mission
is to destroy all previous securities for； and insurances of；
individual property。
All previous historical movements were movements of minorities；
or in the interests of minorities。 The proletarian movement is
the self…conscious； independent movement of the immense majority；
in the interests of the immense majority。 The proletariat； the
lowest stratum of our present society； cannot stir； cannot raise
itself up； without the whole superincumbent strata of official
society being sprung into the air。
Though not in substance； yet in form； the struggle of the
proletariat with the bourgeoisie is at first a national struggle。
The proletariat of each country must； of course； first of all
settle matters with its own bourgeoisie。
In depicting the most general phases of the development of the
proletariat； we traced the more or less veiled civil war； raging
within existing society； up to the point where that war breaks
out into open revolution； and where the violent overthrow of the
bourgeoisie lays the foundation for the sway of the proletariat。
Hitherto；