The first political piece that Karl Marx (age 24) wrote after his dissertation was a polemic against censorship in the spring of 1841. The Zensurinstruktion proclaimed by the Prussian government on 24 December 1841 refined existing rules, in addition to making the current practice more flexible.
Marx's article was intended for Arnold Ruge's Deutsche Jahrbücher, scheduled to appear in Dresden in February 1842. Lo and behold, the issue was prohibited by none other than the Saxon censor, marking the start of an extended series of clashes with the censor throughout Marx's career.
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, commemorated on 3 May, the IISH wishes to call attention to Prussian censorship and Karl Marx's brief career as an editor for the Rheinische Zeitung. This site contains background information on the Rheinische Zeitung including literature and sources, as well as an article by Karl Marx for the Rheinische Zeitung, dated 3 January 1843.
This contribution was made by Huub Sanders on the occasion of 3 May World Press Freedom Day. Read all contributions on World Press Freedom Day.
The following information is available on this site: