The Red Flag started its humble life as the Red Jacobin flag, the flag that represented the Jacobin club. Quickly it would be associated with Revolution and Jacobin politics, popping up in every French Revolution. However it would happen that the last major French Revolution (less French and more Parisian) would help turning the Red flag to become representative of Communism.

Before the Franco-Prussian War, France was under the control of Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon. This Second French Empire would reignite French power and help it to expand to a Colonial power. However, at Sedan, Napoleon III was captured and forced to abdicate with the defeat of the French in the aforementioned war. As a result, France was was a Republic again, but Paris wasn't happy. The idea of Communism had been slowly taking hold and this was the world that Paris wanted. So essentially they declared Communism in Paris and prepared to fight the National government. This Paris Commune would use the Jacobin flag again as it was closely tied with French Revolutionary spirit. As a result, the Red Flag would be tied to The political alignment of the Communism, that of Communism.