The Paris Commune emerged in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War, specifically following the disastrous defeat of France in 1870 and the harsh conditions imposed by the German occupation. As the situation in Paris deteriorated, citizen discontent culminated in the declaration of the Commune on March 18, 1871. Adolphe Thiers, who had been elected as the President of the French Republic, perceived the Commune as a grave threat to the stability and authority of the government he led. On this day, he ordered the evacuation of Parisian forces loyal to the central government, sparking further conflict in the city.

The Paris Commune, characterized by its radical socialist agenda, attempted to establish a new social order based on the principles of democracy and worker control backed by a variety of revolutionary ideas. The insurrection led to the establishment of the Commune's own governing body, which took steps to implement reforms such as separation of church and state, as well as worker management of businesses. Resistance from the national government, however, resulted in a fierce crackdown.

As government troops moved to suppress the Commune in the following weeks, Paris became embroiled in a bloody conflict, with significant loss of life on both sides. This confrontation not only illustrated the deep social and political fractures within France but also marked a critical moment in the history of socialist movements globally. The fierce street battles and eventual downfall of the Commune laid bare the tensions between radical governance and conservative order, influencing revolutionary ideas in future movements across Europe.