In the United States, it does not take long to find the influence of Communism when looking back on the nation’s history. Communism is a political system that has caused a downfall in nearly every country in which it was placed, most notably the Soviet Union. That being said, Communism and its economic effects can be traced back to one man, Karl Marx. While he did not create Communism, his theory, Marxism, lead to both its invention and its failure. Best stated by historian Richard Pipes, “Marxism, the theoretical foundation of communism, carried within it the seeds of its own destruction.” Before diving into Marxism, one must first examine the life of its founder, Karl Marx. Throughout his life, Karl Marx influenced a political system and made a huge impact on the world of sociology. …show more content…
His father, Heinrich Marx, was a lawyer, and his mother was Henrietta Presburg. Both of his parents came from Jewish backgrounds, but his father changed religions two years before Karl’s birth. Karl was taught by his mother until age twelve, he then spent five years at the local high school. After graduating from high school, Karl attended the University of Bonn. At this University, Karl, like most college students, got distracted from his schoolwork and even became a member of the Trier Tavern Club, a drinking society. After a year of drinking and partying, Karl’s father transferred him to the University of Berlin, hoping this stricter school would set him back on track. Karl got a degree in Philosophy and Law from the University of Berlin, and later a doctorate from the University of