Engels argued that the monogamous nuclear family developed for what purpose?

• A. The monogamous nuclear family developed to pass on private property to heirs.
• B. The family exists only to provide emotional fulfilment.
• C. The family has no role in property relations.
• D. The extended family is the main economic unit.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that Engels linked the rise of the monogamous nuclear family to private property and inheritance. As private property became a central part of society, it was important to secure wealth within a single lineage. A monogamous marriage helps fix paternity, keeps wealth from being divided among many heirs, and ensures that property is passed down to legitimate offspring. This arrangement also tightens control over women’s sexuality to guarantee legitimate heirs, reinforcing the transmission of property across generations. So, the family form shifts from broader kin networks to a unit centered on reproducing and passing wealth to heirs. The other options miss this link between property relations and family structure, which is why they don’t fit Engels’ argument.