Alfred Dreyfus, a French army officer of Jewish descent, was convicted of treason in 1894 after being falsely accused of espionage for Germany. His trial was held in a military court and was marked by a significant lack of evidence, relying primarily on forged documents. Dreyfus's defense claimed he was a victim of antisemitism prevalent in the French military and society at the time. On January 5, 1895, he was officially stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment, which resulted in him being sent to Devil's Island, a notorious penal colony in French Guiana.

The Dreyfus Affair became a turning point in French history, igniting a fierce public debate over issues such as national identity, religious intolerance, and the integrity of the judiciary. Prominent intellectuals, including Émile Zola, rallied to Dreyfus's cause, with Zola famously penning the open letter 'J'accuse!' denouncing the injustices of the trial and the French military. The case was polarizing, dividing the country along lines of ideology, class, and religion.

In the years that followed, the advocacy for Dreyfus's exoneration led to increasing scrutiny of the military's actions and the judicial system. The subsequent public outcry culminated in a retrial and eventually Dreyfus's exoneration, underscoring the dangers of prejudice and the importance of civil liberties in a democratic society.