August 1871 French general election (FCF)

General elections were held in France in August 1871 following the Communard Revolution in the spring of the same year that deposed Adolphe Thiers' moderate government and began a rapid decentralization of the country as new self-governing and often leftist communes sprung up throughout France. In these elections the French people elected their National Assembly, departmental and municipal councils, completely renewing the political leadership of their country.

Held in the midst of a process of rapid breakdown of central authority as rural communities began forming their own communes after the surge in urban communes in the spring and summer, the election was marked by the exile or imprisonment of many monarchists and conservative republicans. As a result of the breakdown of central authority and limited political options, the election was also marked by a historically low turnout.