What did socialism grow out of?

Answer 1

Modern Socialism can be traced to the works of Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels. However, they were hardly the first folks to talk about the central concepts of socalism: the common ownership of property by society as a whole.

During the 1800s, the rise of socialism mainly fell under the banner of what was then known as The Progressive movement, which was primarily an agrarian counter to the Industrial Revolution.

The attractiveness of the socialist philosophy in the late 1800s can be seen as a reaction to the abuses of unregulated Capitalism during the rapid Industrialization of most Western countries. During this period, practically all North American and European countries underwent a dramatic change, from a society dominated by farmers and merchants, to one where industrial workers, industrial owners, and financiers formed the vast majority of the population (and who then held the majority of political power).

During this period of rapid Industrialization, farmers lost most of their former influence, and the new industrial worker class often felt powerless and helpless in the face of the new financier and corporate owner class. Socialism was a very attractive philosophy for those disenfranchized and marginalized groups, as it promised a system where they had the power, and not the industrialists/financiers.

Do be careful, though. Modern Socialism and Modern Communism are radically different that the Progressive and early Socialist movements, and it is very hard to compare current Socialism and Communist thought/philosophy with that prevalant in the 1800s.

Answer 2

Socialism emerged out of the social ills resulting from industrial capitalism in the 19th century. Socialism emerged as a solution, intended to be a more efficient, productive and equitable economic system that would allow for greater freedom for workers.

Answer 3

Greater industrialization OR The industrial revolution.

Answer 4

Socialismstems from democracy, as the ideal of political equality is extended to economic equality.

Answer 5

That depends on the time and the place as well as what you count as socialism.

Answer 6

Early socialism was influenced by classical political economy, the labor movement in Europe, and ideas of freedom and equality from the Enlightenment period.