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Proletariat

Definition

The proletariat is a term used to describe the working-class people in a society, particularly those who lack ownership of the means of production and must sell their labor to survive.

Related terms

Marxism: A social, political, and economic theory originated by Karl Marx, which focuses on the struggle between capitalists and the working class.

Class Struggle: The conflict of interest between the workers and the ruling class in a capitalist society, as defined in Marxist theory.

Wage Labor: The socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer, where the worker sells their labor under a formal or informal employment contract.

"Proletariat" appears in:

Subjects (3)

  • AP World History: Modern

  • Intro to Political Science

  • Intro to Sociology

Additional resources (1)

  • AP European History - Unit 6 Overview: Industrialization and Its Effects

Practice Questions (1)

  • What was the main difference between the proletariat and bourgeoisie classes during the industrial era?

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About Us

About Fiveable

Blog

Careers

Code of Conduct

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

CCPA Privacy Policy

Resources

Cram Mode

AP Score Calculators

Study Guides

Practice Quizzes

Glossary

Cram Events

Merch Shop

Crisis Text Line

Help Center

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.