Profile: The Paris Commune (1871)

 

The Paris Commune (1871)

Basics

• Name: Paris Commune
• Aliases: The Red City, La Ville Rouge
• Country: France
• City: Paris
• Population (1871): Approx. 2 million
• Area (1871): 105.4 square kilometers
• Languages Spoken: French
• Currency Used: French Franc
• Notable Landmarks (1871): Notre-Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower (under construction), Louvre Museum, Tuileries Palace (destroyed during the commune), Montmartre

Snapshot

In the spring of 1871, the Paris of the Commune was a city of barricades, a metropolis under siege from within. The palaces, boulevards, and grand edifices of imperial Paris were cloaked in smoke and the air was filled with the sound of bullets, songs, and speeches. Armed citizens patrolled the cobblestone streets, while red flags, the emblem of the Commune, fluttered in the wind above public buildings, replacing the tricolour flag of the French Republic.

History

The Paris Commune was the result of the turmoil that enveloped France in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). During this war, the French Second Empire, led by Napoleon III, was disastrously defeated by the Kingdom of Prussia. The defeat resulted in a power vacuum in France, with the provisional government, called the Third Republic, struggling to assert control. Parisians, particularly the working class, were disillusioned with the national government's handling of the war and its capitulation to Prussia. They felt a stark disconnect between the policies of the national government and the needs of the ordinary citizen.

On March 18, 1871, the people of Paris rose up, declaring their city an independent commune. This marked the beginning of the Paris Commune, a radical socialist, and revolutionary government that ruled Paris for 72 days. The Commune implemented numerous progressive measures, such as separation of church and state, remission of rents owed during the war, abolition of child labor, and the right of employees to take over businesses if the owners fled. However, the Commune's life was short-lived, brutally suppressed during the 'Bloody Week' in May 1871 by the Versailles government.

Characteristics

Paris, during the time of the Commune, was characterized by a mix of hope, defiance, and chaos. Despite the tumultuous situation, the Commune sought to maintain daily life and civic services. Public services were restored and maintained; schools continued to function and efforts were made to ensure supplies of food and other essential commodities. The city was predominantly working-class, with a strong influence of socialist, anarchist, and radical ideas.

Architecturally, Paris bore the scars of recent conflicts, with prominent buildings like the Tuileries Palace destroyed. But it was also a city under transformation, with the construction of the Eiffel Tower, symbolizing the blend of old and new.

Notable Locations

• Notre-Dame Cathedral: The historic cathedral was a major landmark even during the time of the Commune. It witnessed the turbulence of the period, escaping major damage.

• Tuileries Palace: Once a royal residence, it was set on fire during the Commune's final days and was later completely demolished.

• Louvre Museum: The museum remained a significant cultural institution during the Commune, despite the upheaval.

• Place de la Concorde: The historic public square, famous for its obelisk, was often used for public meetings and rallies during the Commune.

Appearances

The Paris Commune has been depicted in various works of fiction, such as:

• "The Civil War in France" by Karl Marx, where the Paris Commune is discussed and analyzed.
• "The Debacle" by Émile Zola, offers a fictional portrayal of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune.
• "La Commune (Paris, 1871)", a 2000 historical drama film directed by Peter Watkins.

Related

• Notable Individuals: Louise Michel, known as the 'Red Virgin of Montmartre', was a notable figure during the Commune, as an anarchist and a revolutionary.
• Significant Events: The Bloody Week, the week of brutal suppression of the Commune by the Versailles government.
• Images: Paris Commune Image Gallery
• Related Entries: Franco-Prussian War, Third French Republic
  

Notes

• The red flag became a symbol of the Commune and has since been associated with socialism and communism.
• The Paris Commune is considered by many to be one of the first examples of a working-class uprising and a "dictatorship of the proletariat".

References

1. "The Fall of Paris: The Siege and the Commune 1870-71." Alistair Horne, Macmillan, 2007.
2. "The Paris Commune: A Revolution in Democracy." Donny Gluckstein, Haymarket Books, 2011.
3. "Massacre: The Life and Death of the Paris Commune." John Merriman, Basic Books, 2014.
4. "The Civil War in France." Karl Marx, 1871.
5. "The Debacle." Émile Zola, 1892.