The Impact Of Anarchist Movements

Submitted By mmoni_carlo
Words: 317
Pages: 2

Although the anarchist movements were highly individualistic, with each anarchist seeming to add their own personal take on things, everyone involved in these movements had at least one ideal in common: “a society where individual desires, tastes, and inclinations could flourish.” This common view point attracted all the obvious of free spirits; artists, rebels, independent thinkers, writers, and many others of that sort. So, rebellion inevitably held a major influence over lifestyles, literature, and art. Many hopes were achieved by attempting to overturn the government. The Paris Commune for example, granted women’s right to vote and separation of church and state. But, some what unlike other anarchist movements, this revolt was a success because of the fear it inflected in people. Not only did France’s own troops fail to retrieve their hidden canons they had in Paris, but they also joined forces with the National Guard because they feared it’s very probable victory. The fear is apparent in other overturns of the government also, but not so much that it caused people to switch sides. For instance, the Haymarket Massacre is a good example of the extremely less advantaged side ruthlessly fighting for a cause, regardless of the highly potential failure. This riot was a reaction to the 8 hour work days placed on the workers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. A more peaceful attempt at getting the message through followed this riot, but ended in a bomb being let off