Paris Commune

The Paris Commune was a revolutionary government that ruled the city of Paris for a short time in 1871. It began on 18 March 1871 and ended on 28 May 1871. A revolutionary government is one that takes power during sudden political change. The Commune was formed after France was defeated in the Franco-Prussian War. Paris was under great stress from war, hunger, and political conflict. The Paris Commune controlled the city for about two months before it was defeated by the national government of France.

The background of the Paris Commune is linked to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. France was at war with Prussia, a powerful German state. France lost the war, and the French emperor Napoleon III was captured. After this defeat, a new French government was formed and moved to the city of Versailles, near Paris. Paris had been under siege, meaning it was surrounded by enemy forces and cut off from supplies. Many people in Paris were angry and distrustful of the new government.

Tension increased when the government tried to take control of cannons owned by the National Guard in Paris. The National Guard was a citizen army made up largely of working-class men. On 18 March 1871, fighting broke out between government troops and Paris residents. Government forces withdrew from the city. The people of Paris then formed their own government, which became known as the Paris Commune. Elections were held, and members of the Commune took control of city administration.

The Paris Commune introduced several changes in how the city was run. It separated the church from the state, meaning religious institutions were no longer part of government. It stopped rent payments that had built up during the siege. The Commune also supported worker cooperatives. A cooperative is a business owned and run by its workers. Schools were expanded and made more secular, which means not controlled by religion. These measures were decided by elected members of the Commune.

The French national government in Versailles did not accept the Commune. It gathered an army and prepared to take back Paris. In late May 1871, government troops entered the city. This period is known as the Bloody Week. Street fighting took place across Paris. Many buildings were damaged or destroyed. Thousands of people were killed or arrested during and after the fighting. By 28 May 1871, the Paris Commune was defeated, and government control was restored.

Although the Paris Commune lasted only a short time, it became an important event in French history. It was studied and discussed by later political thinkers, including Karl Marx. The Commune showed how deep political divisions existed in France during the 19th century. It remains a key example of a short-lived revolutionary government formed during a time of crisis.