There have been many efforts to interpret scientifically the meaning of the urban rebellions of the 1960s and the rise of tenant and community movements over the last several decades. Perhaps the most relevant theoretical Marxist work in this field, however, was written over a century ago, and continues to be an important guide for both activists and theoreticians. Friedrich Engels' The Housing Question contains the essential propositions of a Marxist approach to housing and urban systems; all subsequent work validates and embellishes these propositions.This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full. Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.