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Surprise Revolutionary Mobilization
- The March 18, 1871 revolutionary event caught Parisian left-wing revolutionaries completely by surprise.
- This spontaneous mass mobilization disproved the idea that only a dedicated vanguard could topple the government.
Critical Delay in Action
- The Central Committee chose to hold elections rather than march on Versailles immediately.
- This delay arguably cost them the chance to decisively defeat the national government.
Power Struggle of Parisian Authorities
- Mayors of Paris claimed legitimacy against the National Guard's Central Committee.
- Both groups sought to avoid civil war through negotiation with the Versailles government, but failed.