A municipal government that briefly held power in Paris, France, from March to May 1871. Coming to power during a time of national upheaval, the Commune required
pawn shops to return tools pawned by workers, instituted
pensions for veterans' widows, abolished
interest on
debt, and implemented other similar measures. It was forced out of power by the French army, but was considered a model for
Marxist leaders from the late-19th through the mid-20th century.