See also, what is the proletariat?
The bourgeoisie is the exploiter class most characteristic of the capitalist system. The word “bourgeoisie” is a plural noun. We use the word “bourgeois” as an adjective and occasionally as the singular noun. Before there was capitalism in Western Europe, there was feudalism. In French feudalism, the term “bourgeoisie” arose to refer to the middle-classes of the cities, people who traded or other men of wealth but not the highest social standing. The French Revolution of 1789 was the ultimate bourgeois revolution. It made the bourgeoisie the highest class. People who were rich but without the highest social standing tore down the privileges of the old upper classes in 1789. In general the bourgeoisie brought about principles of rule that sanctified money above birthright or family ties. Having a prestigious name was no longer what brought one to the pinnacle of power under bourgeois rule. We raise all this to point out that the “bourgeoisie” has not been the same for all of history. It
