Life and death of the paris commune of 1871 by john merriman. The marxist internet archive has a very useful section on the paris commune which includes documents produced by the commune and a timeline of events. Lissagaray was a middleclass republican who came to sympathize with the communards. Voices of the paris commune revolutionary pocketbooks. Never has a revolution more surprised the revolutionaries. Merriman is the author of numerous books, including massacre. This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the paris commune across 22 indepth pages. It is almost impossible to imagine what the defeat of the commune in 1871 might have wrought such thoughts are maybe best left to the butterfly imaginations of alternate historians. Make educational timelines or create a timeline for your company website. It established the first truly democratic government in the city and the entirety of france as all workers united and overthrew the existing french regime at that time, which had failed to guard paris from the prussian siege see the fact file below for more information on the paris commune.
The francoprussian war had led to the capture of emperor napoleon iii in september 1870, the collapse of the second french empire, and the beginning of the third republic. Given the disruption of the paris commune, which saw women take up arms in the streets of. If youve read about it already in a history survey but want to know more, without committing to a 500 page tomb, this is a good middle ground freely available. Paris commune news newspapers books scholar jstor march 2018 learn how and when to remove this template message. Thiers sees the armed workers of paris as his main. The program that the commune adopted, despite its internal divisions, called for measures. Texts selected, edited, and translated by mitchell abidor. May 16, 2001 the paris commune of 1871 was one of the greatest and most inspiring episodes in the history of the working class. Inspired by the marxist politics and revolutionary goals of the international workingmens organization also known as the first international, workers of paris united to overthrow the existing french regime which had failed to protect the city from prussian siege, and formed the first. The paris commune and accounting for failure part i. The paris commune is often said to be the first example of the working class and excluded taking power, making it a highly significant event, even if.
A brief history of the worlds first socialist working class uprising. Originally published in the 1930s this is a fascinating examinat. The paris commune of 1871 arose, victoriously from the ruins of the second empire and, after seventytwo epochmaking days, it succumbed heroically under the hail of bullets of the versailles counterrevolution. Eighty three were killed, including women and children, and barricades were thrown up in parts of the city overnight. The siege of paris was fought september 19, 1870 to january 28, 1871 and was a key battle of the francoprussian war 1870 1871. Over one hundred years ago, in march of 1871, the working class of paris drove the french ruling class out of paris. John merriman about the paris commune, the radical socialist and revolutionary government, which ruled paris from 18 march to 28 may 1871. For an interesting discussion, with many photos and maps, see the website historychronocartography of the 1871 paris commune.
Seeing this map made me want to, not only retrace it in. The paris commune was a radical socialist and revolutionary government that ruled paris from. Parisians reacted angrily for german troops arrival in city. The paris commune in global urban history global urban. Days later, the commune was elected, immediately declari. The parisian workers strove, in extremely difficult. When they established the worlds first workers democracythe paris commune they found no readymade blueprints, and no precedents to study for how to run their city without princes, prison wardens, or professional politicians. On january 29, 2014, friends mariabruna fabrizi and fosco lucarelli posted an interesting article on socks check out their new interface.
Commune of paris, 1871, insurrection of paris against the french government from march 18 to may 28, 1871. Paris commune of 1871 article about paris commune of 1871. During the paris commune just like today in the movements of struggle in tunisia. The paris commune during the french revolution was the government. The survival of the paris commune, without a doubt, had a significant shaping effect on the european left in the century that followed. Although the paris commune is considered a major event in the history of the modern world just think about how the russian and chinese revolutions made use of its memory it does not, at first glance, seem like a natural subject of global or of global urban history.
The paris commune of 1871, the first instance of a workingclass seizure of power, has been subject to countless interpretations. The best possible way to help the paris commune succeed would be to ensure these communes also succeed tying up the french army. Loyalty to the region was much more important than to the nation for many, and played into political concerns. If you are using a mobile device on the walk and for some reason the image has not loaded or become inaccessible, here is the text from the paris commune infographic timeline. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. The workers of paris, joined by mutinous national guardsmen, seized the city and set about reorganising society in their own interests based on workers councils. Mar 27, 2016 the refusal of the communards to accept the authority of the french government led to the commune being brutally suppressed by the regular french army in may during the bloody week. For this reason it is a highly significant event, even though it is ignored in the french history curriculum. The paris commune, functioning between march 18 to may 28 of 1871, was spawned by the francoprussian war. Na under thiers ordered french army to crush commune, 20,000 ppl died. Aug 17, 2015 minister of the interior, charles beule, to his wife, 1871 it took three long weeks, three weeks of mistrust and skirmishing and positioning, for the peace talks to be arranged. This book by a participant and survivor of the commune has historically been the starting point for any pro commune analysis. Timeline of the paris commune marxists internet archive.
The history of the paris commune of 1871 by march, thomas. The met march 26 the paris commune is formally established in paris. After months of struggle and suffering, parisians reacted angrily for the arrival of the german troops in the city. The paris commune was the biggest and last popular revolution in western europe ending the cycle of revolutions that started in 1789. The decisive date in the history of the commune is march 18, 1871. Manifesto of the paris communes federation of artists. A timeline created with timetoasts interactive timeline maker. Seeing this map made me want to, not only retrace it in continued. French army takes paris, spending eight days executing thousands of communards. After a massacre of unarmed workers, the government begins preparations to surrender paris to the germans. The paris commune is hailed by anarchists and marxists as the first.
Jul 28, 2016 by quentin deluermoz, universite paris. Kristin ross is professor of comparative literature at new york university. Translated from the french by cecilia terrero fernandez. The sequence of major events of 1870 71 leading up to the paris commune of 1871. While all regular troops are disarmed, the national guard is permitted to keep their. Lets have a look at a very brief chronology of a long list of struggles. Revolutionary thought after the paris commune, 18711885 by julia. When one studies the history of the paris commune of 1871 one learns something new from it even though from the perspective of revolutionary strategy the communards made virtually every mistake in the book. The story of the paris commune of 1871, as told by those who fought for it. This includes a detailed map of the barricades, assault routes, and areas burnedout during the french governments assault on the commune. A short history of the paris commune internet archive. The library of congress does not own rights to material in its collections.
All of these were failures compared to the paris commune. It was the first time anywhere that the power of the bourgeoisie was replaced by the power of the workers. On the same day the foreigners elected to the commune were confirmed in office, because the flag of the commune is the flag of the world republic. The proclamation of the commune on march 26 initiated a twomonth experiment in democratic. The beginning of 1871 saw a brief pause in fashion change due to the franco prussian war and paris commune.
Although it was carved a hundred years later, it is a reliable source to use as it displays the success of the paris. Fearing a repeat of 1871, or what was happening in russia, the austrian government sent in the army. The paris commune was a popularled democratic government that ruled paris from march 18 to may 28, 1871. To volunteer, ask questions, or send comments, mail mitchell abidor. The paris commune, 1871 summary portraits of french political leaders and revolutionaries.
However, the commune should be anything but a blind spot for global urban history. The paris proletariat and the national guards hold a revolutionary demonstration. Paris commune of 1871 the first proletarian revolution and the first government of the working class. That timeline cancan is probably essential for those of you who have difficulty keeping your french revolutions apart. Spectre of europe an alternative paris commune timeline. Other articles where commune of paris is discussed. The burning of the tuileries palace by the paris commune 24 may 1871 26 march elections for the new paris commune, or city council, with low voting in affluent west paris but high turnout in the workingclass neighborhoods. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. On march 18 1871, after france was defeated by prussia in the francoprussian war, the french government sent troops into paris to try and take back. Paris surrendered to the prussians on 28 january 1871, and in february. On the 28th march 1871 the paris commune was proclaimed and met for the first time. The national assembly, which was elected in february 1871 to. As a result of the war, germany gains the greater part of former french territories alsace and lorraine. Sep 08, 2006 the paris commune is often said to be the first example of working people taking power.
On march 18th of 1871, radical workers and artisans organized in the national guard decisively took control of the city as the regular french army fled. Publication date 1896 topics paris france history commune, 1871 publisher. Established by a group of french radical patriots who refused to give up in the francoprussian war, and wanted to independantly rule paris. Roar magazine is an independent journal of the radical imagination providing grassroots perspectives from the frontlines of the global struggle for real democracy. Commune of paris, 1871, insurrection of paris against the french. The paris commune dissolved during the bloody week of may 2128, 1871, when the regular army returned and took control of the city.
Historical account of the insurrection in paris 1871 which led to the proclamation of the paris commune a revolutionary socialist society. For two months in 1871, the workers of paris took control of europes most celebrated capital city. Chapter three of state and revolution is devoted to lenins commentary on marxs analysis of the 1871 paris commune. The political imaginary of the paris commune verso, 2015, is a masterful study of the ideas and aspirations driving the historic revolt. In 1870 1871, paris was, together with london, one of the worlds most important cities, in terms of population as well as political and economic power. Its an excellent book that provides an overview of the commune s life with a particular emphasis on its bloody demise at the hands of adolphe thiers troops. Jan 12, 2015 the francoprussian war ends with a siege of paris. The parisians, reeling from defeat in the francoprussian war set up their own revolutionary administration. Inspired by the marxist politics and revolutionary goals of the international workingmens organization also known as the first international, workers of paris united to overthrow the existing french regime which had failed to protect the city from prussian siege. The royalists resolutely refused to legitimise their regime by meeting them in paris. There followed, for france, the disastrous military defeat at sedan and the siege of paris, which has finally ended in january of this year 1871. France has lost alsacelorraine to the new german empire, and the war has been followed immediately by the uprising of the paris commune, which is only crushed, by a french army, after bitter street. The paris commune of 1871 was one of the greatest and most inspiring episodes in the history of the working class. Such was the language of the commune, which socialists must now attempt to decipher.
Established in paris, it lasted for 72 days march 18 to may 28. In 1871, at the time of the division, he argued, only 30% of france spoke what was considered french. The commune remitts all payments of rent for dwelling houses from october 1870 until april 1871. Commune of paris of 1871 timeline timetoast timelines. Nov 19, 2015 one of the first cataclysms to be chronicled by the times, in its 20th year, was the brutal suppression of the paris commune by french and prussian troops during the bloody week in may 1871. In this unique collection of texts translated into english for the first time, we hear the genuine voices of the paris commune of 1871.
It occurred in the wake of frances defeat in the francogerman war and the collapse of napoleon iiis second empire 185270. Roar editor jerome roos spoke to her about the commune s legacy, its impact on 19 th century radical thought, and the revival of. One of the biggest mistakes of the paris commune was allowing members of the bourgeois to still act freely in the city which would lead to sabotage of the commune. The role of british and american newspapers and periodicals. The paris commune, interview with mitch abidor french history. In a tremendous revolutionary movement, the working people of paris replaced the capitalist state with their own organs of government and held political power until their downfall in the last week of may. In 2002 the school introduced a masters program in business administration for wine.
Timetoasts free timeline maker lets you create timelines online. The paris delegates to versailles win peace at a humiliating cost. According to lenin, marx and engels had no answer to this question when they wrote the manifesto. With the beginning of the francoprussian war in july 1870, french forces suffered a string of serious reverses at the hands of the prussians.
The paris commune was in essence the first large scale experiment in socialist governance. The one anatomized in paris commune, which opened wednesday and runs. Lumpenproletariaton todays edition of free speech radios letters and politics host mitch jeserich spoke with dr. The refusal of the communards to accept the authority of the french government led to the commune being brutally suppressed by the regular french army in may during the bloody week.
Bismarck triumphs, and william i, king of prussia r. A revolutionary democracy and rupert christiansen, paris babylon. The commune of 1871 was never truly vanquishedits political imaginary lived on and is today being liberated and revived in a new cycle of struggles. The paris commune 1870 1871 and montmartre montmartre.
Multiple networks and mobilization in the paris commune, 1871. Germanys victory created discontent among the parisian workers who were already unhappy over growing economic inequality and food shortages. The communards, fearful of being executed, refused to leave their own territory. History of the paris commune marxists internet archive.