The Communards were members of the Paris Commune, a revolutionary government that ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. This movement emerged after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and aimed to establish a socialist society. The Commune implemented progressive reforms, including universal suffrage for men, separation of church and state, and worker control of businesses. The Paris Commune was ultimately suppressed by the French government during a violent conflict known as the Bloody Week. Despite its short duration, the Commune has inspired various socialist and anarchist movements worldwide, symbolizing the struggle for workers' rights and social justice.