The Importance Of The Dreyfus Affair

The late 1800s and the early 1900s were a time of deep division within French society. It was the beginning of a struggle between the Right and the Left; France was suffering from a dwindling national identity and disunity. After the Franco-Prussian War defeat in 1870s, the country was greatly weakened, causing separation within itself. However, it wasn’t until the events of the 1890s and onward occurred, centering around one man, Alfred Dreyfus, that the deep corruption of the French government and the separation of two sides became recognizable. The battle between Right and Left became more notably the battle between the Dreyfusards and the Anti-Dreyfusards. Additionally, the army, which once had a long history of success, was subject to scrutiny and failure causing a distinction of different mentalities within the country. …show more content…
Its events pit the Right-wing individuals against the Left-wing thus causing deep divisions within society. Not only was it a political battle, the situation caused tension in many other areas as well. “Secularism against Catholicism, rationalism against obscurantism, and the Universalism of the French Revolutionary tradition was against an exclusive and aggressive nationalism.” Although the Dreyfus trial ended in favor of the Jewish military officer, it took a while to do so. It was not until more than 10 years later in 1906 that Dreyfus was fully rehabilitated for “his crime.” In this year, the army officially recognizes his innocence. The unwillingness of the Republic to exonerate an innocent man, even though there were numerous evidences and also a confession from the true perpetrator, caused the unveiling of the great separation, already present long ago, within France’s society. “By intensifying antagonisms between right and left and by forcing individuals to choose sides, the case made a lasting impact on the consciousness of the French