Insurrectionary communes in France in 1870–1871

The insurrectionary communes in France in 1870–1871 were communes distinguished by their refusal to acquiesce to two significant events: first, France's capitulation to Bismarck, and second, the submission to the authority of the Versailles government. In their stead, these communes espoused a new organization of the French Republic predicated on direct democracy, otherwise designated as communism. These communes were predominantly urban, and militarily organized around the National Guard. While the initial uprisings were led by the Commune of Lyon and the Commune of Marseille, the most consequential was the Commune of Paris. Other communes of note included the Saint-Étienne Commune, the Narbonne Commune, and the Commune of Le Creusot. Moreover, numerous other French communes witnessed insurrectionary movements after the Franco-Prussian War.

The military forces of the insurgents were decisively defeated by the Versailles government during the 1871 campaign in the interior, which represented the final major episode of the civil war in France. The events of Bloody Week (Semaine sanglante) have left an indelible mark on the collective memory of the nation.