Theplaceofthecommuneinsocialistevolution onmarch18, 1871,thepeopleofparisroseagainstadespisedanddetestedgovernment,and proclaimedthecityindependentfree. Sep 08, 2006 the paris commune is often said to be the first example of working people taking power. The paris commune y max shachtman the fall of second empire. The proclamation of the commune on march 26 initiated a twomonth experiment in democratic. Publication date 1896 topics paris france history commune, 1871.
This book by a participant and survivor of the commune has historically been the starting point for any procommune analysis. The paris commune is often said to be the first example of working people taking power. 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. And after bakunins death in 1876 this position was developed furtherespecially in switzerland by refugees from the paris commune such as elisee reclus. From 18 march to 28 may 1871, the two million residents of paris ran their city as an autonomous commune, established fortythree worker cooperatives, and advocated for a federation of revolutionary communes across france. The paris commune, functioning between march 18 to may 28 of 1871, was spawned by the francoprussian war. In patronizing tones, adolphe thiers explains thatfor the sake of public order, democracy, the republic, the economy, and their own skinsthe honest people of paris must turn over the cannons, along with the criminals by whom they have been led astray.
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. Although it was carved a hundred years later, it is a reliable source to use as it displays the success of the paris. Never has a revolution more surprised the revolutionaries. A historical reenactment in the style of a documentary, the film received much acclaim from critics for its political themes and watkins direction. In an historical sketch of the events of the movement known as the paris commune of 1871, it is desirable to start with the endeavour to fix that movement in its true historical perspective. On the morning of march 18, montmartre wakes to find the walls plastered with a proclamation. The paris commune, 1871 summary portraits of french political leaders and revolutionaries. It is really the beginning of the concsious struggle for socialism. Paris commune of 1871 article about paris commune of 1871. Manifesto of the paris communes federation of artists red. The paris commune was the first time the working class rose up, took power, held on to power for ten weeks before it was brutally crushed in the last.
The many fortresses on this map illustrate one aspect of this fact, but the city itself was constantly being rebuilt throughout the 19th century to better defend the central government against the population of the city itselfand the population occasionally rearranged the city to defend itself against the government. The argument made was that the ideal of the commune in the minds of workers was as essential to its survival as military armament. Such was the language of the commune, which socialists must now attempt to decipher. The paris commune of 1871 was one of the greatest and most inspiring episodes in the history of the working class. The city of paris was built for defence against various threats. 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. Their rejection was largely responsible for the downfall of the hohenwart cabinet. The paris commune of 1871 was the most important urban popular rising in europe between the french revolution of 1789 and the russian revolution of february 1917. 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 history of the paris commune is not just history, but it is our history. The paris commune of 1871 in both its inception and defeat was used by lenin as an example of how this revolutionary action failed to dismantle the financial and governmental institutions and left them intact and availble for restoration by the existing regime. The decisive date in the history of the commune is march 18, 1871.
While all regular troops are disarmed, the national guard is permitted. Roar magazine is an independent journal of the radical imagination providing grassroots perspectives from the frontlines of the global struggle for real democracy. Germanys victory created discontent among the parisian workers who were already unhappy over growing economic inequality and food shortages. By all accounts, the regular army killed more people. Over one hundred years ago, in march of 1871, the working class of paris drove the french ruling class out of paris. In october, 1917, fortysix years after the paris commune, the workers of russia under the leadership of the bolshevik party, with lenin at its head, established the first workers state rooted in permanence. 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. Other articles where commune of paris is discussed. Mar 26, 2009 speaking on the 1871 paris commune at the imt winter school in berlin, greg oxley explained. The paris commune was the biggest and last popular revolution in western europe ending the cycle of revolutions that started in 1789. The power of bonapartism, which had skilfully utilized the struggles of the classes to perpetuate its own rule was being confronted by the. The paris commune was a popularled democratic government that ruled paris from march 18 to may 28, 1871. The history of the paris commune of 1871 by march, thomas.
The 72 days of the paris commune workers, mar 2011 issue. The paris commune, interview with mitch abidor french history. It ended the series of paris popular risings begun in july 1789 and continued in july 1830 and june 1848. Paris commune of 1871 the first proletarian revolution and the first government of the working class. Roar magazine is an independent journal of the radical imagination providing grassroots perspectives from the frontlines of. Originally published in the 1930s this is a fascinating examinat. In the summer of 1870, emperor napoleon iii of france waged an unnecessary war with prussia.
After a massacre of unarmed workers, the government begins preparations to surrender paris to the germans. This book by a participant and survivor of the commune has historically been the starting point for any pro commune analysis. The paris commune of 1871 by frank jellinek goodreads. History of the paris commune marxists internet archive. Theplaceofthecommuneinsocialistevolution onmarch18,1871,thepeopleofparisroseagainstadespisedanddetestedgovernment,and proclaimedthecityindependentfree. The paris commune dissolved during the bloody week of may 2128, 1871, when the regular army returned and took control of the city. The role of british and american newspapers and periodicals. 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. For this reason it is a highly significant event, even though it is ignored in the french history curriculum. On march 18, 1871, the workers of paris rose up and declared a revolutionary commune whose historical experience continues to resonate today.
Established in paris, it lasted for 72 days march 18 to may 28. A paris commune timeline page 2 of 2 artsemerson blog. Was there anything actually successful about the paris. Since 1871, it has been a day of celebration and rededication of the workers in every country. Speaking on the 1871 paris commune at the imt winter school in berlin, greg oxley explained. Occupational activity of parisians arrested or deported after the commune of. A reactionary measure in the wake of frances defeat in the francoprussian war. The paris commune was in essence the first large scale experiment in socialist governance.
Dec 23, 2014 the story of the paris commune 1871 duration. For the 140th anniversary of the 1871 commune, this international symposium is. The first jolt to the ruling classes arrogant belief that only they are fit to govern came in 1871 with the uprising of the paris commune 1871. Fundamentalky were a set of proposed changes to the austrohungarian constitution regarding the status of the bohemian crownlands.
Multiple networks and mobilization in the paris commune, 1871. Days later, the commune was elected, immediately declari. The story of the paris commune of 1871, as told by those who fought for it. Audio the paris commune of 1871 in defence of marxism. Thiers sees the armed workers of paris as his main. Space limitations prevented me from including anything written by eugene varlin 18391871, an outstanding member of the paris section, and later federation, of the international. 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.
Apr 15, 2016 the paris commune was in essence the first large scale experiment in socialist governance. It occurred in the wake of frances defeat in the francogerman war and the collapse of napoleon iiis second empire 185270. The history of the origin of the commune is the history of the fall of the empire of louis napoleon after the francoprussian war. The paris commune a brief history of the worlds first socialist working class uprising. Now, the paris commune occupies a peculiar position in the history of the proletarian movement. It was the first time anywhere that the power of the bourgeoisie was replaced by the power of the workers. May 16, 2001 the paris commune of 1871 was one of the greatest and most inspiring episodes in the history of the working class. Its genesis lies in a list of material in my personal collection and a further list of works i was looking for, hence the lack of some bibliographical details. Commune of paris, 1871, insurrection of paris against the french government from march 18 to may 28, 1871. The parisians, reeling from defeat in the francoprussian war set up their own revolutionary administration. The next day, the committee announced elections to the commune, simultaneously invoking the revolutionary commune of 1789 and the tradition of municipal independence favored nineteenthcentury socialists like proudhon greenberg 1973.
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