The Collapse Of The Paris Commune: Proudhonists Vs Blanquists
Collapse of the Paris Commune: Proudhonists vs. Blanquists
Matthew Burke
Western Civilization Mr. Caragher February 18, 2018
Following the disastrous defeat of the French Army during the Franco-Prussian War, the elites left the city of Paris for Versailles and other areas. In 1871, the workers of Paris then took control of the city for over ten weeks; they established a type of worker’s democracy which became known as the Paris Commune. In response the government of Adolphe Thiers prepared for “a class war” between the bourgeoisie and Parisian workers. Upon the return of the Parisian elites, they not only found that the lower class inhabitants were not paying rent, but that they had seized …show more content…
The authority of the Paris Commune was to a large degree diffused due to the establishment of multiple equivalent ministries and executive commissions each run by a delegate. The Paris Commune renamed positions such as “Minister of War” to “Citizen Delegate to the Ministry of War.” and placed common citizens as delegates to ministries as well as creating numerous ministries for different areas of the government both in an effort to ensure that government operates transparently, democratically, and in the interests of everyday workers and to ensure that no one individual is too …show more content…
According to author R.D. Anderson, “Events in 1870-1871 followed a similar pattern to those after the 1848 Revolution: a Republican provisional government called elections which produced a moderate majority, creating disillusion and tension among the urban masses, and leading to a working-class rising when it seemed that the gains of the Revolution were to be snatched away again.” Unlike the events of 1848, rather than leading to a monarchist, anti-democratic reaction, the Paris Commune of 1871 led to a surge in republican sentiment that led to the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the Third French Republic. This led to a surge in republican sentiment that resulted in monarchists losing much of their power, and the last king of France, Napoleon III, losing his power. Both Proudhon and Blanqui were able to take advantage of this political vacuum in order to form an ideological following that found major support within the Paris Commune. However, the differences between the two ideological camps created staunch critics from the start, as well as making the city very difficult to govern due to this
Matthew Burke
Western Civilization Mr. Caragher February 18, 2018
Following the disastrous defeat of the French Army during the Franco-Prussian War, the elites left the city of Paris for Versailles and other areas. In 1871, the workers of Paris then took control of the city for over ten weeks; they established a type of worker’s democracy which became known as the Paris Commune. In response the government of Adolphe Thiers prepared for “a class war” between the bourgeoisie and Parisian workers. Upon the return of the Parisian elites, they not only found that the lower class inhabitants were not paying rent, but that they had seized …show more content…
The authority of the Paris Commune was to a large degree diffused due to the establishment of multiple equivalent ministries and executive commissions each run by a delegate. The Paris Commune renamed positions such as “Minister of War” to “Citizen Delegate to the Ministry of War.” and placed common citizens as delegates to ministries as well as creating numerous ministries for different areas of the government both in an effort to ensure that government operates transparently, democratically, and in the interests of everyday workers and to ensure that no one individual is too …show more content…
According to author R.D. Anderson, “Events in 1870-1871 followed a similar pattern to those after the 1848 Revolution: a Republican provisional government called elections which produced a moderate majority, creating disillusion and tension among the urban masses, and leading to a working-class rising when it seemed that the gains of the Revolution were to be snatched away again.” Unlike the events of 1848, rather than leading to a monarchist, anti-democratic reaction, the Paris Commune of 1871 led to a surge in republican sentiment that led to the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the Third French Republic. This led to a surge in republican sentiment that resulted in monarchists losing much of their power, and the last king of France, Napoleon III, losing his power. Both Proudhon and Blanqui were able to take advantage of this political vacuum in order to form an ideological following that found major support within the Paris Commune. However, the differences between the two ideological camps created staunch critics from the start, as well as making the city very difficult to govern due to this