Louise Michel
Louise Michel was born in 1830 and was a fervernt anarchist. She preached violent revoultionary tactics and took part in fighting in Paris between revolutionary and government forces, pushing for even more violent and lethal conflict. She believed that the only way to reform government was through violence and advocated class wars. She came to these conclusions while teaching at Montmartre, a large haven for French radicals. While the Commune was in existance she was the first to push for an invasion of Versailles and violent takeover of aristocratic holdings. She also took part in the battles between the Communards and the Government forces as a leader of a womenÕs brigade. Eventually, she survived the fall of the Commune and was sentanced to prison. In 1880 she was released and resumed her campaign of revolutionary speeches advocating violent protest and was eventually arrested for inciting a riot. She was a writer of both poetry and prose, and her works demonstrate a deep social awareness both in her writing and her time as a teacher.