Changes

{{Mediawiki<youtube>https:Kindleoasis}}//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya8cSGAiEyw</youtube>

[[File:Paris_Commune_rue_de_Rivoli.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Rue de Rivoli in Paris a week after the fires abated]]In 1871, in Paris, there was one of the first modern left-wing revolutions in the world. It came amidst a background of war and siege. The Paris Commune , as the revolution was known, sought to implement some of the most radical ideas of the French Revolution. The revolutionaries were much influenced by anarchism and were in many ways the precursors of the Soviet Communist in Russian in the early 20th century. The Paris Commune was ultimately defeated, but it served as a model for many revolutionaries at the time and to the present day. ==Background==In 1870, the Prussian Chancellor Bismarck engineered a war with France, under its Emperor Napoleon III. The two nations fought each other mainly in north-eastern France. The Prussians and their German allies defeated the French at the Battle of Sedan and captured the Emperor and they then proceeded to besiege Paris. In the city, the local defence was often in the hands of the the local militia, the National Guard and they were organised on the basis of neighbourhoods. At this time, many citizens of Paris, especially in the poorer neighbourhoods, effectively governed themselves, as they were cut off from the control of the central government, during the Prussian siege. A new provisional French government was located in Bordeaux, far in the South-West of France. Many of the members of the National Guard had left-wing sympathies and they had long resented the autocratic rule of Napoleon III and were eager for change. <ref>Edwards, Stewart (1971). ''The Paris Commune 1871''. (London: Eyre & Spottiswoode), p. 67.</ref> Many of the more radical elements in the National Guard were radicals and wanted a revolution. Many of these were sympathetic to the first Socialist movement the ‘First International’.<ref>Stewart, p. 68.</ref> Many in Paris felt abandoned by the new French government and angry at their handling of the war effort.

There was growing frustration with the French army and the government for failing to lift ====Background====In 1870, the Prussian siege and after Chancellor Bismarck engineered a large demonstrationwar with France, the National Guard seized control of the government of the cityunder its Emperor Napoleon III. <ref> Robban, Alfred (1965)The two nations fought each other, ''A History of Modern mainly in north-eastern France'' (Hammondsworth, Penguin Books), p. 215.</ref> They began to organise The Prussians and their German allies defeated the French at the government Battle of Sedan and captured the city on Socialist Emperor, and Anarchist lines and were committed they then proceeded to the defence of besiege Paris against . In the besieging Germans. The Communards as they became known, organised an electioncity, which they won. They organised the city on socialist principles and power local defense was located with often in the local committees.<ref>Cobbanmilitia, the National Guard, pand organized based on neighborhoods. 217.</ref> The rebels demanded a separation of Church and State At this time, universal suffrage and somemany Paris citizens, demanded even especially in the abolition of all private property. They also wanted the power to rest with the people and their local committees. The rebels saw poorer neighborhoods, effectively governed themselves as the heirs of the Great French Revolutionaries such as Marat and Danton. The Communards , as they became known, defied were cut off from the new French central government and sought to extend their rule throughout France.<ref>Merman, John (2014). ''Massacre: The Life and Death of s control during the Paris Commune of 1871''. (New Haven and London: Yale University Pres). p. 81Prussian siege.</ref>

==The Suppression of A new provisional French government was located in Bordeaux, far in the Communards==[[File:1184pxSouth-Commune_de_Paris_barricade_Place_BlancheWest of France.jpg|thumbnail|365px|The barricades on Place Blanche]] After Many of the French government agreed to a peace treaty with the GermansNational Guard members had left-wing sympathies, and they had long resented the war between it autocratic rule of Napoleon III and the Communards was inevitablewere eager for change. <ref>Edwards, Stewart. ''[https://www.amazon. com/gp/product/0812902599/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812902599&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=0f4c18f751d6a03db9b795cba08fd648 The new French governmentParis Commune 1871]''. (London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, under Adolphe Thiers1971), decided to crush p. 67.</ref> Many of the more radical elements in the Communards National Guard were radicals and their movementwanted a revolution. With secret German, help, who Many of these were still occupying territory around Francesympathetic to the first Socialist movement, they despatched a large military force to Paristhe ‘First International. ’ <ref>CobainStewart, p. 21868.</ref> When the Communards refused to hand over some cannon over to Many in Paris felt abandoned by the new French army, this was to provide the French army with the excuse it needed to crush the National Guard government and all those who supported angry at their handling of the Paris Communewar effort.

The There was growing frustration with the French army bombarded the Communards in Paris and then attacked their strongholds. The rebels resisted furiously and the fighting became known as the ‘Bloody Week’. The French army brutally crushed government for failing to lift the rebels and it summarily executed many CommunardsPrussian siege. The rebels had also committed many atrocitiesAfter a large demonstration, including the execution National Guard seized control of priests. At the end government of the fightingcity.<ref>Cobban, some 18Alfred,000 people had died and 25,000 were wounded''[https://www. Many Communards were imprisoned and sent to Penal Colonies in French Guineaamazon.<com/gp/product/014020525X/ref>Merman=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014020525X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=982f548e95ba459e58a23f0b79e6726c A History of Modern France]'' (Hammondsworth, Penguin Books, 1965), p. 134215.</ref> The French Government was able They began to organize the city's government on Socialist and Anarchist lines and were committed to reassert its control over Paris's defense against the besieging Germans. Soon after the The Communards were crushed, as they became known, organized an election, which they won. They organized the Prussians withdrew from Francecity on socialist principles, and power was located with local committees.<ref>Cobban, p. 217.</ref>

==Influence The rebels demanded a separation of the Paris Commune on Revolutionaries==The Communards were totally destroyedChurch and State, howeveruniversal suffrage, their revolt and their ideology were to have an enormous influence. They were to inspire many revolutionaries from some demanded even abolishing all over Europeprivate property. They saw in also wanted the Communard’s rebellion an example how a society could liberate itself from power to rest with the forces of oppression, such as the Church people and Monarchytheir local committees. They The rebels saw the Communards themselves as providing a model for a future and free society, where equality and justice were guaranteed.<ref>Cobain, p. 218.</ref> Nearly, every revolutionary movement in the period drew important lessons from heirs of the Parisian Great French Revolutionaries. Their bloody suppression of the revolution persuaded many that change was only possible through violencesuch as Marat and Danton. As a resultthey became known, in the decades following the defeat of the Communards, many radical groups, engaged in terrorists’ attacks across Europe, but especially in defied the Russian Empire, where terrorist groups such as the People’s Will launched a campaign of bombings new French government and assassinationssought to extend their rule throughout France.<ref> ButterworthMerman, AlexJohn (2014). ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465020178/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0465020178&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8b30415300c9c2d08b9fb770bbab6922 Massacre: The World That Never Was: A True Story Life and Death of the Paris Commune of Dreamers, Schemers, Anarchists and Secret Police1871]'' . (Pantheon Books, New Haven and London, 2010: Yale University Press), . p. 4, 7, 1481.</ref>

==Influence on Marx and Lenin==The Suppression of the Communards====[[File:683px1184px-LeninCommune_de_Paris_barricade_Place_Blanche.jpg|thumbnail|275px365px|Vladimir LeninThe barricade on Blanche Place in Paris, 1871]]Almost immediately after After the defeat of French government agreed to a peace treaty with the CommunardsGermans, left-wing radicals analysed why the revolution had failedwar between it and the Communards was inevitable. These critiques were very influential. None more so than that of Karl MarxThe new French government, under Adolphe Thiers, decided to crush the founder of CommunismCommunards and their movement. He studied the reasons for the failure of the revolt and published his findings in his work the Civil War in They dispatched a large military force to Paris with secret German help, occupying territory around France (1871).<ref> Karl Marx, ''The Civil War in France, English Edition of 1871''Cobain, p. 1218.</ref> He believed that When the Commune failed because it was not ruthless enough and that if it should have been led by Communards refused to hand over some professional revolutionaries. Marx believed that cannon to the Commune French army, this was to provide the first example of French army with the ‘dictatorship of excuse it needed to crush the proletariat’, that is a form of participatory government, where National Guard and all power was in those who supported the hands of ordinary people.<ref>Marx, 6Paris Commune.</ref>

The French army bombarded the Communards in Paris and then attacked their revolution were to have a huge influence on Leninstrongholds. The Russian Revolutionary studied rebels resisted furiously, and the works of Marx on the history of fighting became known as the Communards‘Bloody Week. He came to ’ The French army brutally crushed the conclusion that professional revolutionaries were needed to ensure that a revolution would succeed rebels, and not be quashed as were the it summarily executed many Communards. Lenin was The rebels had also influenced by committed many atrocities, including the organisation execution of priests. At the end of the fighting, some 18,000 people had died, and 25,000 were wounded. Many Communards were imprisoned and wrote extensively on their ideas and revolutionsent to Penal Colonies in French Guinea.<ref> V.I. Lenin, "Lessons of the Commune"Merman, Marxists Internet Archivep. Originally published: Zagranichnaya Gazeta, No. 2, 23 March 1908. Translated by Bernard Isaacs134.</ref> He modelled his Soviets or workers’ councils on the democratic councils established by the The French Revolutionaries in 1871. The revolution of 1871 Government was able to have an important influence on reassert its control over Paris. Soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917Communards were crushed, the Prussians withdrew from France.

==Conclusion==Influence of the Paris Commune on Revolutionaries====The Paris Commune was a failed revolutionCommunards were destroyed; however, their revolt and their ideology were to have an enormous influence. It attempted They were to fulfil inspire many revolutionaries from all over Europe. They saw in the more radical ideas Communard’s rebellion an example of how a society could liberate itself from the forces of oppression, such as the French Revolution in 1789Church and Monarchy. It was savagely repressed They saw the Communards as providing a model for a future and free society, where equality and there was to be no similar revolution justice were guaranteed.<ref>Cobain, p. 218.</ref> Nearly every revolutionary movement in France until 1968the period drew important lessons from the Parisian Revolutionaries. The repression Their bloody suppression of the revolution persuaded many that change was only possible through violence. As a result, in the decades following the Communards encouraged ' defeat, many left-wing radical groups to adopt more violent tactics and engaged in terrorist attacks across Europe, but especially in the decades after Russian Empire, where terrorist groups such as the revoltPeople’s Will launched bombings and assassinations campaign.<ref> Butterworth, terrorism became a feature of European lifeAlex. ''[https://www.amazon. com/gp/product/0307386759/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307386759&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a91bd1a2ab2e4468679c38c61138cffc The ideas and the example World That Never Was: A True Story of the Commune of 1871Dreamers, Schemers, Anarchists, were to have a decisive influence on both Marx and Lenin and continues to this daySecret Police]'' (Pantheon Books, London, 2010), p. 4, 7, in left-wing circles14.</ref>

==References==Influence on Marx and Lenin====[[File:683px-Lenin.jpg|thumbnail|255px|left|Vladimir Lenin]]Almost immediately after the defeat of the Communards, left-wing radicals analyzed why the revolution had failed. These critiques were very influential. None more so than that of Karl Marx, the founder of Communism. He studied the reasons for the revolt's failure and published his findings in his work the Civil War in France (1871).<ref> Karl Marx, ''The Civil War in France, English Edition of 1871'', p. 1.</ref> He believed that the Commune failed because it was not ruthless enough and that if some professional revolutionaries should have led it. Marx believed that the Commune was the first example of the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat,’ a form of participatory government, where all power was in ordinary people's hands.<ref>Marx, 6.</ref>  The Communards and their revolution were to have a huge influence on Lenin. The Russian Revolutionary studied the works of Marx on the history of the Communards. He came to the conclusion that professional revolutionaries were needed to ensure that a revolution would succeed and not be quashed as were the Communards. Lenin was also influenced by the Communards' organization and wrote extensively on their ideas and revolution.<ref> V.I. Lenin, "Lessons of the Commune," Marxists Internet Archive. Originally published: Zagranichnaya Gazeta, No. 2, 23 March 1908. Translated by Bernard Isaacs.<references/ref>He modeled his Soviets or workers’ councils on the democratic councils established by the French Revolutionaries in 1871. The revolution of 1871 was to have an important influence on the Russian Revolution in 1917. ====Conclusion====The Paris Commune was a failed revolution. It attempted to fulfill the more radical ideas of the French Revolution in 1789. It was savagely repressed, and there was to be no similar revolution in France until 1968. The Communards' repression encouraged many left-wing groups to adopt more violent tactics, and in the decades after the revolt, terrorism became a feature of European life. The ideas and the Commune of 1871 example were to have a decisive influence on both Marx and Lenin and continues to this day, in left-wing circles.

====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====

*[[The Nazi triumph: how How did Adolf Hitler become the Fuehrer Fuhrer of Germany?]]

{{Mediawiki====References====<references/>[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:French History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:19th Century History]]{{Contributors}}