Immediately after the deposition of the emperor a third Republic of France was proclaimed.

A temporary government was set up under the direction of MM.

Favre, Gambetta, Simon, Ferry, Rochefort, and others of pronounced republican tendencies.
This was speedily superseded by a National Assembly elected by the people, with M.Thiers acting as its executive head.
During the siege of Paris an internal enemy had appeared, more dangerous, and proving in the end far more destructive to the city than the German army which occupied it.
What is known as the Paris Commune was a mob of desperate men led by Socialistic and Anarchistic agitators of the kind which at intervals try to terrorize civilization to-day.
The ideas at the basis of this insurrection were the same as those which converted a patriotic revolution into a "Reign of Terror" in 1789, and Paris into a slaughter-house in 1792-93.
Twice during the siege had there been violent and alarming outbreaks from this vicious element; and now it was in desperate struggle with the government of M.Thiers for control of that city, which they succeeded in obtaining.

M.Thiers, his government, and his troops were established at Versailles; while Paris, for two months, was in the hands of these desperadoes, who were sending out their orders from the Hotel de Ville.
When finally routed by Marshal MacMahon's troops, after drenching some of the principal buildings with petroleum they set them on fire.

The Tuileries and the Hotel de Ville were consumed, as were also portions of the Louvre, the Palais Royal, and the Palais de Luxembourg, and the city in many places defaced and devastated.
The insurrection was not subdued without a savage conflict, ten thousand insurgents, it is said, being killed during the last week; this being followed by severe military executions.