Paris Commune

Paris Commune, name generally given to the French revolutionary government consisting of 92 members, established by the people of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). On September 1, 1870, the French Emperor Napoleon III surrendered to the Prussians at the Battle of Sedan in north-eastern France. Two days later, the Republicans of Paris staged a bloodless revolution and proclaimed the establishment of the Third Republic. In January 1871 Paris capitulated to the Prussians after a siege lasting four months.

By the terms of the armistice signed by the Prussians and the French in February, the National Assembly was to vote on whether to make peace with the Prussians. A majority of members were Royalists who wanted to restore the monarchy. They favoured acceptance of the peace terms dictated by the Prussian prime minister, Otto von Bismarck. The radical Republicans and socialists in Paris, however, considered Bismarck's terms humiliating and wanted to continue the war. On March 17 and 18, the Parisians led an uprising against the national government. They established a proletarian government in Paris, called the Central Committee of the National Guard, and set March 26 as the date for the election of a municipal council. This council became known as the Commune of 1871, and its members as Communards. Most Communards were followers of Louis Auguste Blanqui, a revolutionary held prisoner in Versailles by the head of the National Assembly, Adolphe Thiers. Other Communards supported the school of socialism expounded by the French philosopher Pierre Joseph Proudhon and members of the International Workingmen's Association, of which Karl Marx was then a corresponding secretary.

The Commune adopted or proposed many measures for the benefit of workers. Before they could take effect, however, the National Assembly sent troops to Paris to suppress the revolt. For six weeks, starting on April 2, Paris was bombarded by French government troops, and its centre destroyed. Its defences were breached in early May and from May 21 to 28, thereafter known as Bloody Week, street fighting between the two sides was particularly savage. More than 20,000 people were massacred by the government forces, and before surrendering on May 28, the Communards burned numerous public buildings in Paris and murdered their hostages, including the Archbishop of Paris.