Activities History of Spain

1. Founding Manifesto of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers Party) 20th of July 1879
Consider that this society is unjust, because it divides its members into two
unequal and antagonistic classes: one, the Bourgeoisie, that, by possessing the
instruments of labour, is the domineering class; the other, the Proletariat, which
does not possess more than its vital strength, is the dominated class.
(Consider) that the economic subjection of the Proletariat is the primary cause
of slavery in all its forms: social misery, intellectual degradation and political
dependence. (Consider) that the privileges of the Bourgeoisie are guaranteed
by Political Power, which it values in order to dominate the Proletariat. Consider
that necessity, reason and justice demand that inequality and antagonism
between each class disappear, thus reforming or destroying the social state that
has been plunged into the most horrific misery in which those that spend their
whole life producing their wealth, which is very little or nothing, are still useful to
society. (…) The Socialist Party has the following aspirations: First- The
possession of political power by the working class. Second- The transformation
of individual or corporate ownership of the instruments of labour (land, mines,
transport, factories etc) in the common ownership of the entire society. (…) In
summary, the ideal of the Socialist Party is the complete emancipation of the
working class. That is to say, the abolition of all these social classes and their
conversion into only one, of workers free and equal, honest and intelligent.

2. Read the text and answer the following questions.
According to the Manifesto:

What are the differences between the
bourgeoisie and the proletariat?

How would inequality and antagonism between
the two classes disappear?

What is the main goal of the PSOE?
Personal opinion:

Why do you think the primary cause of slavery is
the economic subjection of the proletariat?
Research:

When, where and by whom was the PSOE
founded?