According to Marx and Engel’s theory, history is shaped and moved forward by the struggle to control the modes and means of production. While the struggle for control is nothing new, the idea of a cla

According to Marx and Engel’s theory, history is shaped and moved forward by the struggle to control the modes and means of production. While the struggle for control is nothing new, the idea of a class consciousness resulted from the birth of modern capitalism, thanks to the Industrial Revolution. A group’s shared identity as part of a certain economic class could lead them to working together to seize control (the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeoisie). So, according to Marxism, in order for there to be a class struggle, there needs to be class consciousness. So how and why does Thompson apply a class analysis to 18th-century English society? Is he convincing? To place the events in Thompson’s article in greater context, consider the article by Wilentz.