What was Karl Marx's belief regarding the potential future actions of workers?

Karl Marx believed that the tensions between the working class (the proletariat) and the owning class (the bourgeoisie) would eventually lead to a revolution. He theorized that workers, burdened by exploitation and poor working conditions, would become increasingly aware of their shared struggles and class consciousness. This awareness would drive them to unite and rise against the capitalists who controlled the production means. Marx viewed this revolution as a necessary step toward dismantling capitalism and creating a classless society where the means of production would be owned collectively by the workers.

The idea that workers would seize control of factories stems from Marx's advocacy for a proletariat revolution, wherein the working class would take over the means of production and manage them democratically. This concept is central to his critique of capitalism and his vision for socialism. The other options reflect ideas that do not fully align with Marx's theories on class struggle and the inevitable conflict between the proletariat and bourgeoisie. For instance, the notion of workers forming cooperatives or being content with their conditions runs counter to Marx's belief in inherent class conflict and the need for radical change through revolution.