The Paris Commune of 1871: History Presentation

Introduction

• 1871 Paris Commune: two-month revolutionary government in Paris.¹
• Revolution that defined the modern French Republic.
• First contemporary Marxist worker’s revolution.
• Foundation for democratic rule and social voice in France.²
• Brief rule presented vital historic lessons for all sides.³

The Paris Commune of 1871 was a brief revolutionary government that took control of Paris in the midst of social and political turmoil in France at the time. Driven by ideologies of Marxism, socialism, and anarchism, it sought to give governance and democracy back to the people after decades of exploitation and financial inequality. However, the Paris Commune remains largely not studied, even in France This topic was inherently interesting to me because it holds such great importance historically to France and overall revolutionary history which occurred globally in the next century.

Build-Up to the Paris Commune

• Since 1789 French Revolution, society experienced continuous evolution.
• “Social” republic experienced a crisis of policy and leadership.⁴
• Political elite rampant with corruption and despotism.
• Society greatly invigorated by Marx’s proletarian involvement and radical democracy.
• Universal support for communality as Paris expanded.⁵

France underwent significant social and political changes in the period from 1789 to the 1871 Commune, with constant shifts between democracy, monarchy, and authoritarian leadership of Napoleon. One thing was evident, that corruption and inequality was present, particularly in Paris which grew tremendously. The workers living in poor conditions and having little political input were dissatisfied with the status quo. Radical democracy and Marx’s socialist ideologies were beginning to take root as a commune type of government received support.

Coming into Power

• 1870 Franco-Prussian war which France lost and had to capitulate Paris.
• Royalty and elite left the city with the army which Prussians left to self-govern.
• Army sought to collect artillery from Parisian National Guard and was prevented by the public, forced to retreat.
• Paris Commune formed March 26, 1871.⁶
• Open revolution against the national government and establishing a socially governed Commune.

The national government was doing poorly at governing the country and Paris, engaging in a war with Prussia which France eventually lost and had to surrender Paris as Prussians practically starved the city to capitulation. Parisians saw this as betrayal as the ruling elite left the city and those who were left hoarded the supplies. When the Army came to collect cannons and munitions from a fort in Paris, it was blocked by the Parisian National guard and a huge crowd, signifying rebellion. The army refused to fire upon its people and left, allowing the Commune to form its own government in Paris.

Period of Governance

• Held democratic elections to form a 80 person council.
• City divided into communes and self-governed neighborhoods.⁷
• 10 Commissions formed to oversee provisional life.⁸
• Shackles of power eliminated, and city prospered under social rule.⁹
• Separation of church and state and disruption of religious and economic power hierarchies.¹⁰

Initially the Paris Commune was highly successful in social governance, holding elections, eliminating the police force, allowing for Parisian neighborhoods to self-regulate. Crime virtually disappeared and the city was cleaner than ever as workers could now control their living conditions and funding was distributed properly. The Paris Commune further adopted Marx’s ideology of separation of church and state, which was important considering the influence of the Catholic Church at the time. Other aspects such as secular calendar and elimination of the death penalty were adopted as well.

Policy Issues

• Lack of popular support nationwide since national government not overthrown.
• Overwhelming ideological issues often contradictory socialism, anarchy, and radical democracy.
• Lack of single leadership or governance coordination along with poor experience and homogeneity.
• Radicalization over time, witch hunts and paranoia for supports of national government.¹¹
• Unable to respond to bigger challenges facing society, mostly focusing on needs of laborers.¹²

Despite some initial success, the Commune was ineffective in the grand scheme of things in its governance and policy. It was too disorganized and lacked a strong leadership, which in combination with the number of ideological influences brought by some of its lead figures resulted in chaos. As the conflict with the National Army grew, the Commune essentially imploded and turned on itself through rampant radicalization and a lack of delivery on its promises.

Downfall of the Paris Commune

• Social turmoil and divisions made it difficult for Parisians to unite behind the Commune.¹³
• Executions of Commune supporters by the Army resulted in retaliatory measures and lawlessness in ParisArmy began assault on Paris on May 21, 1871, storming Commune strongholds.
• Self-governed neighborhoods and Parisian National Guard could not organize effective defense.
• Mass executions began, particularly by the Army of any Commune leadership, soldiers, or citizens with arms.
• Ended with a massacre with anywhere between 6,000-17,000 Parisians dead as the Commune was overthrown by the legitimate government.¹⁴

The Paris Commune experienced a tragic and bloody downfall as the National Army stormed the city taking advantage of division and unguarded defenses as the Commune was disorganized to effectively defend itself. The national government made sure to send a message by conducting executions, while the Commune sought to retaliate by executing the few important hostages it had such as the Darboy, the Archbishop of Paris. Despite the Commune fighting until its last strongholds inside the city, they were eliminated.

Discussion and Impacts

• Paris Commune a unique political experiment as socialist imaginary.¹⁵
• Key event that perpetuated the revolutionary tradition in a continuous adaptation.¹⁶
• Various histography perspectives including the beginning of a modern revolutionary and labor driven Europe.
• Integral part of popular cultural and history in Paris.¹⁷
• Paris Commune humanized the revolution in its anarchical elements united for a common objective.¹⁸

The Paris Commune in its essentiality was the first socio-political experiment that eventually led to the utilitarian collectivist revolutions of the 20th century. It was an example of association and cooperation of nonalienated labor in a European capital that went on to create a new status quo in French society and politics. A key highlight of the Paris Commune was its intellectual experimentation that sought to invest into the revolutionary politics with ideas of equality and solidarity. Although, it lacked a fixed leadership or parameter, it was a process of continuous adaptation that instigated significant changes throughout the continent.

Conclusion

• Paris Commune of 1871 a temporary revolutionary government.
• Arose as a consequence of social problems, inequality, and turmoil.
• Adopted ideas of socialism, anarchy, and radical democracy in attempt to give power to the Parisians.
• Short-lived due to external pressures, disorganization, and policy errors.
• Impacted France by defining civil resistance and function of government.
• First left-wing socialist revolution in history that served as a key practical model with many lessons learned to achieve success in future revolutions.

The lack of greater awareness among the public and even historians about the Paris Commune of 1871 is concerning as this revolutionary period and government is vastly important not only for French but global revolutionary history. The Commune was a practical model, when the first ideas of Marx and others were put into action in terms of governance. The outcomes were then used to draw conclusions, by Marx and other political figures to define key structures of a successful revolution.

Endnotes

1. Karl Marx, The Civil War in France, edited and translated by Mark Harris. Web.
2. Mitch Abidor, trans, “Decree on the Separation of Church and State,” Marxists. 2019. Web.
3. Katie Brunner, “Myth and the Paris Commune,” Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal 41/42 (2014/2015): 49.
4. Mitch Abidor, trans, “Letter from Garibaldi,” Marxists. 2019. Web.
5. David B. Dowing,“The Struggle Between Communality and Hierarchy: Lessons of the Paris Commune for the Twenty-First Century,” Socialism and Democracy 32, no. 2 (2018): 61.
6. Paul Saba, “The Paris Commune: First Proletarian Dictatorship.” Revolution 3, no. 6 (1978). Web.
7. Mitch Abidor, trans, “Manifesto of the Paris Commune,” Marxists. 2019. Web.
8. Robert McGray, “Karl Marx and the Paris Commune of 1871: Tracing Traditions of Critical Pedagogy,” International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology 5, no. 2 (2014): 3.
9. Mitch Abidor, trans, “Decree on the Separation of Church and State,” Marxists. 2019. Web.
10. Pierre Milza, L’année Terrible: La Commune (1871). (Paris: Perrin, 2019), 56.
11. Mitch Abidor, trans, “ To France’s Great Cities,” Marxists. 2019. Web.
12. John Merriman, Massacre: The Life and Death of the Paris Commune, (London, England: Yale University Press, 2014), 73.
13. John Merriman, “The Spectre of the Commune and French Anarchism in the 1890s,” in The Palgrave Handbook of Anarchism, edited by Carl Levy and Matthew S. Adams (Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019), 343.
14. William Pembroke Fetridge, The Rise and Fall of the Paris Commune in 1871; With a Full Account of the Bombardment, Capture, and Burning of the City, (Sydney, Australia: WENTWORTH Press, 2016), 105.
15. Kristin Ross, “The Paris Commune and the Literature of the North.” Critical Inquiry 41, no. 2 (2015): 287.
16. Julia Nicholls, Revolutionary Thought after the Paris Commune, 1871-1885 (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2019), 1.
17. Adrian Piotrovsky,“The Paris Commune: A Staging,” translated by Daniel C. Gerould. Journal of Performance and Art 37, no. 2 (2015): 93.
18. Robert Tombs, The Paris Commune 1871 (New York, NY: Routledge, 2014).

Bibliography

Abidor, Mitch, trans. “Decree on the Separation of Church and State.” Marxists. Web.

—. “Letter from Garibaldi.” Marxists. 2019. Web.

—. “Manifesto of the Paris Commune.” Marxists. 2019. Web.

—. “To France’s Great Cities.” Marxists. 2019. Web.

Brunner, Katie. “Myth and the Paris Commune.” Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal 41/42 (2014/2015): 49-66.

Dowing, David B. “The Struggle Between Communality and Hierarchy: Lessons of the Paris Commune for the Twenty-First Century.” Socialism and Democracy 32, no. 2 (2018): 56-86.

Fetridge, William Pembroke. The Rise and Fall of the Paris Commune in 1871; With a Full Account of the Bombardment, Capture, and Burning of the City. Sydney, Australia: WENTWORTH Press, 2016.

Gopnik, Adam. “The Fires of Paris.” The New Yorker, 2014. Web.

Marx, Karl. The Civil War in France. Edited and translated by Mark Harris. Web.