The Paris Commune, Socialism, and Imperialism: Key Events

The Paris Commune (1871)

In March, an attempt by the French government to regain control of the situation led to a popular rebellion and the constitution of the Commune as a revolutionary power. It was made up of workers with different ideologies: Jacobins, republicans, socialists, and anarchists, etc. The Commune provided the first experience of a proletarian government, which led to the worldwide persecution of the First International. It was affected by internal divisions and was dissolved in 1876.

Feminist Movements and Socialism

Some feminists associated in the defense of Paris and argued that women’s liberation would only be possible by fighting against capitalism. They demanded gender and pay equality, the right to divorce, and secular and professional education for young women. International Women’s Day started to be celebrated every March 8th.

The Rise of Socialism

During the 1870s, socialist parties were founded in various European countries. The first was the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Socialist and trade union groups around the world were federated in the Second International in 1889. Anarchists were excluded. Ideas and proposals were debated at the congresses of the new Workers’ International. Some debates were not strictly related to the conditions for workers, although they did affect them, as in the rise of nationalism and the expansion of colonial empires.

Causes of Imperialism

Industrial Development

• Required raw materials and new consumer markets.

Rivalry Between Industrialized Countries

• Competed for enough raw materials, secure trade routes, and political prestige.

Intense Population Growth

• Emigration from Europe to other places (USA…).

Ideological and Cultural Factors

• Racial superiority, religious missions, and scientific missions to explore new territories.

Consequences of Imperialism

Artificial Borders

• In Africa, they didn’t respect the established borders and created artificial ones, dividing tribes and ethnic groups.

Inequalities

• Colonies take raw materials and receive little money, while mother countries then sell manufactured goods to them at a very high price.

Violence

• Like genocide in the Belgian Congo, and fights between indigenous people because of the new social order (Racial discrimination).

Advances in Industrialized Countries

• Medicine, laws, and administration.

Short Questions

1. What restrictions did women face at the beginning of the 19th century?

Inequality: women earned less than half of a man’s wage, were not able to go to university, and were legally controlled by their husbands, fathers, or brothers.

2. Who were the suffragettes?

In the second half of the 19th century, groups of women emerged demanding equality with men, especially in the United States and the British Empire. At that time, their main demand was the right to vote, or suffrage, so they were known as suffragettes.

4. How did the First World War contribute to the fight for women’s equality?

Thanks to World War I, the jobs previously done by men then had to be done by women.

5. What were the demands of the early Spanish feminists?

Referred to motherhood, caring for the family, and certain citizen rights.