How does Karl Marx refer to the class of workers he believes is divided from a small number of capitalists?

Karl Marx refers to the class of workers who are separated from a small number of capitalists as the proletariat. In Marxist theory, the proletariat is defined as the working class who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive. This class is often portrayed as being exploited by the capitalist class, or bourgeoisie, who own the resources and profit from the labor of the proletariat.

Marx argued that this division between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is a fundamental aspect of capitalist societies, leading to socioeconomic disparities and class conflict. The focus on the proletariat highlights the struggles of workers against capitalist exploitation, as they seek to improve their conditions and achieve equitable treatment.

The terminology used in the other choices reflects different aspects of labor and socioeconomic status but does not encapsulate Marx's specific framework for class analysis in the same way that "proletariat" does. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the specific class struggle that is central to Marx's critique of capitalism.