1871 Commune

On 18th March 1871, the Paris Commune begun! For the first three French Revolutions of 1789, 1830 and 1848, it is People versus King.

The Paris Commune is fascinating as no King is involved and the previous leader in power: Napoleon III, defeated by Bismarck, is no longer in the picture. So who are people revolting against?

A temporary government (located in Versailles) led by Adolphe Thiers is in place and has signed a peace treaty with the Prussian (German) troops.

Thiers wanted to disarm the National Guard which had protected Paris. To do so, he sent the army to seize their cannons. In reaction, Parisians formed the "Conseil de la Commune" (in reference to the Commune in the very first French Revolution).

The Paris Commune lasted 71 days. The Communards set fire to many places in Paris... And thousands of them died fighting or at the firing squad, executed by the Republic!

In this kind of event, who can say who was right and who was wrong?