May 68

May 68 was a period of unrest in France that began with student protests at the University of Nanterre and the Sorbonne in Paris against university conditions and authoritarian norms. After police violence against students and clashes in the Latin Quarter, workers joined in, and a general strike involving millions of workers paralyzed the country. President Charles de Gaulle briefly left Paris, then dissolved the National Assembly and called an election, which his supporters won decisively in June. The Grenelle agreements gave workers pay rises, but the events had a lasting impact on French society and culture, challenging traditional hierarchies and influencing later social movements.

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