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{{Mediawiki<youtube>https:Kindle}}//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya8cSGAiEyw</youtube>__NOTOC__[[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 defense was often in the hands of the the local militia, the National Guard , and they were organised organized based on the basis of neighbourhoodsneighborhoods. At this time, many Paris citizens of Paris, especially in the poorer neighbourhoodsneighborhoods, effectively governed themselves, as they were cut off from the control of the central government, 's control 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 A new provisional French army and the government for failing to lift was located in Bordeaux, far in the Prussian siege and after a large demonstration, South-West of France. Many of the National Guard seized control of members had left-wing sympathies, and they had long resented the government autocratic rule of the cityNapoleon III and were eager for change. <ref> Robban, Alfred (1965)Edwards, Stewart. ''A History of Modern France[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 Paris Commune 1871]'' . (HammondsworthLondon: Eyre & Spottiswoode, Penguin Books1971), p. 21567.</ref> They began to organise Many of the government of more radical elements in the city on Socialist and Anarchist lines National Guard were radicals and wanted a revolution. Many of these were committed sympathetic to the defence of Paris against the besieging Germans. The Communards as they became knownfirst Socialist movement, organised an election, which they won. They organised the city on socialist principles and power was located with local committees‘First International.’ <ref>CobbanStewart, p. 21768.</ref> The rebels demanded a separation of Church and State, universal suffrage and some, demanded even the abolition of all private property. They also wanted the power to rest with the people and their local committees. The rebels saw themselves as the heirs of the Great French Revolutionaries such as Marat and Danton. The Communards as they became known, defied Many in Paris felt abandoned by the new French government and sought to extend angry at their rule throughout France.<ref>Merman, John (2014). ''Massacre: The Life and Death handling of the Paris Commune of 1871''war effort. (New Haven and London: Yale University Pres). p. 81.</ref>

==The Suppression of There was growing frustration with the Communards==After French army and the French government agreed for failing to lift the Prussian siege. After a peace treaty with large demonstration, the Germans, National Guard seized control of the war between it and government of the Communards was inevitablecity.<ref>Cobban, Alfred, ''[https://www.amazon. The new French governmentcom/gp/product/014020525X/ref=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, under Adolphe Thiers1965), decided p. 215.</ref> They began to crush organize the Communards city's government on Socialist and Anarchist lines and their movementwere committed to Paris's defense against the besieging Germans. With secret GermanThe Communards, helpas they became known, who were still occupying territory around Franceorganized an election, which they despatched a large military force to Pariswon. They organized the city on socialist principles, and power was located with local committees. <ref>CobainCobban, p. 218217.</ref> When the Communards refused to hand over some cannon over to the French army, this was to provide the French army with the excuse it needed to crush the National Guard and all those who supported the Paris Commune.

The French army bombarded rebels demanded a separation of Church and State, universal suffrage, and some demanded even abolishing all private property. They also wanted the power to rest with the Communards in Paris people and then attacked their strongholdslocal committees. The rebels resisted furiously and saw themselves as the fighting became known as heirs of the ‘Bloody Week’. The Great French army brutally crushed the rebels Revolutionaries such as Marat and it summarily executed many CommunardsDanton. The rebels had also committed many atrocitiesAs they became known, including the execution of priests. At Communards defied the end of the fighting, some 18,000 people had died and 25,000 were wounded. Many Communards were imprisoned new French government and sent sought to Penal Colonies in French Guineaextend their rule throughout France.<ref>Merman, pJohn (2014). ''[https://www. 134amazon.<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 French Government was able to reassert its control over Life and Death of the ParisCommune of 1871]''. Soon after the Communards were crushed, the Prussians withdrew from France(New Haven and London: Yale University Press). p. 81. </ref>

==Influence ==The Suppression of the Paris Commune on RevolutionariesCommunards====[[File:1184px-Commune_de_Paris_barricade_Place_Blanche.jpg|thumbnail|365px|The Communards were totally destroyedbarricade on Blanche Place in Paris, however, their revolt and their ideology were 1871]] After the French government agreed to have an enormous influence. They were to inspire many revolutionaries from all over Europe. They saw in the Communard’s rebellion an example how a society could liberate itself from peace treaty with the forces of oppressionGermans, such as the Church war between it and Monarchythe Communards was inevitable. They saw The new French government, under Adolphe Thiers, decided to crush the Communards as providing and their movement. They dispatched a model for a future and free societylarge military force to Paris with secret German help, where equality and justice were guaranteedoccupying territory around France.<ref>Cobain, p. 218.</ref> Nearly, every revolutionary movement in When the period drew important lessons from Communards refused to hand over some cannon to the Parisian Revolutionaries. Their bloody suppression of the revolution persuaded many that change French army, this was only possible through violence. As a result, in to provide the decades following French army with the defeat of excuse it needed to crush the Communards, many radical groups, engaged in terrorists’ attacks across Europe, but especially in National Guard and all those who supported the Russian Empire, where terrorist groups such as the People’s Will launched a campaign of bombings and assassinations.<ref> Butterworth, Alex. ''The World That Never Was: A True Story of Dreamers, Schemers, Anarchists and Secret Police'' (Pantheon Books, London, 2010), pParis Commune. 4, 7, 14.</ref>

==Influence on Marx and Lenin==Almost immediately after the defeat of The French army bombarded the Communardsin Paris and then attacked their strongholds. The rebels resisted furiously, left-wing radicals analysed why and the revolution had failedfighting became known as the ‘Bloody Week. These critiques were very influential’ The French army brutally crushed the rebels, and it summarily executed many Communards. None more so than that of Karl MarxThe rebels had also committed many atrocities, including the founder execution of Communismpriests. He studied At the reasons for the failure end of the revolt fighting, some 18,000 people had died, and published his findings in his work the Civil War 25,000 were wounded. Many Communards were imprisoned and sent to Penal Colonies in France (1871)French Guinea.<ref> Karl Marx, ''The Civil War in France, English Edition of 1871''Merman, p. 1134.</ref> He believed that the Commune failed because it The French Government was not ruthless enough and that if it should have been led by some professional revolutionariesable to reassert its control over Paris. Marx believed that Soon after the Commune was the first example of the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’Communards were crushed, that is a form of participatory government, where all power was in the hands of ordinary peoplePrussians withdrew from France.<ref>Marx, 6.</ref>

====Influence of the Paris Commune on Revolutionaries====The Communards were destroyed; however, their revolt and their revolution ideology were to have a huge an enormous influence on Lenin. The Russian Revolutionary studied They were to inspire many revolutionaries from all over Europe. They saw in the works Communard’s rebellion an example of Marx on how a society could liberate itself from the history forces of oppression, such as the CommunardsChurch and Monarchy. He came to They saw the conclusion that professional revolutionaries were needed to ensure that Communards as providing a model for a revolution would succeed future and free society, where equality and not be quashed as justice were guaranteed.<ref>Cobain, p. 218.</ref> Nearly every revolutionary movement in the period drew important lessons from the CommunardsParisian Revolutionaries. Lenin Their bloody suppression of the revolution persuaded many that change was also influenced by only possible through violence. As a result, in the organisation of decades following the Communards ' defeat, many radical groups engaged in terrorist attacks across Europe, but especially in the Russian Empire, where terrorist groups such as the People’s Will launched bombings and wrote extensively on their ideas and revolutionassassinations campaign.<ref> VButterworth, Alex. ''[https://www.Iamazon. Lenincom/gp/product/0307386759/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307386759&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a91bd1a2ab2e4468679c38c61138cffc The World That Never Was: A True Story of Dreamers, Schemers, Anarchists, and Secret Police]'' (Pantheon Books, London, "Lessons of the Commune" 2010), Marxists Internet Archivep. Originally published: Zagranichnaya Gazeta4, No. 27, 23 March 1908. Translated by Bernard Isaacs14.</ref> He modelled 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.

====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.</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 fulfil 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 of the Communards 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 example of 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. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What were the goals of the Axis powers and the Soviet Union during World War Two?]]*[[Why did Operation Market Garden in 1944 fail?]]*[[How did Mussolini become Prime Minister of Italy?]]*[[How did Adolf Hitler become the Fuhrer of Germany?]]*[[Why did Germany lose the Battle of Stalingrad?]]</div> ====References====<references/>[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:French History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:19th Century History]]{{Contributors}}