On March 18, 1871, the starving people of Paris revolted against the government in Versailles and proclaimed the Paris Commune. This revolutionary regime sought radical reforms but was brutally crushed by the French army after just two months.
Yet the Commune remains one of the first major attempts to build a society based on equality, workers' power, and direct democracy. Despite its short life, it had a profound influence on later socialist and revolutionary movements. It became a symbol of resistance to authority and capitalism and inspired revolutions and workers' struggles worldwide.
The Commune lives on in symbols: "Le Temps des Cerises," the Red Flag, the image of Marianne on the barricades. For many, it evokes romantic, nostalgic feelings. In our memories, the dream has triumphed over reality. But in reality, the Commune was a merciless civil war. What began on March 18th ended in a bloodbath on May 28th, with the mass execution of the last rebels.
The uprising took place at a time when the emerging industrial world was facing socialist resistance for the first time. Within this young movement, a fundamental debate raged: should we choose organization or direct action? The Commune gave hope to revolutionaries who wanted to overthrow the existing order through violence. But its failure ultimately strengthened the conviction of those who advocated a gradualist approach. This conflict not only shaped the future of socialism but also how the Commune was remembered.
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