The Dreyfus Affair

The Dreyfus Affair

It all started on October 15th 1894 when a French army captain named Alfred Dreyfus (1858-1935), was arrested for high treason. He was found guilty by some secret military trial and on January the 5th 1895, he was sent to Devil's Island (where they send all the criminals). At Devil's Island a small piece of blue paper was found by the cleaning lady in Dreyfus' room. She saw that the piece of paper was about the Germans having information on the French army. So, she soon tells the army, and they get a handwriting expert to find out who wrote this. While Dreyfus was on Devil's Island his wealthy family was using all their money to try and get him off the island. But, it was impossible, Dreyfus had been set up. He was a French Jewish Republican and no one was going to believe that he hadn't written that note.

But, in 1896, there is a new chief. His name was George Picquart. Piquart couldn't care less about Dreyfus and tells everybody that Dreyfus is innocent. The handwriting experts find out that it was not Dreyfus who had written this message, but Walsin Esterhazy. They also see that Esterhazy was having financial difficulties at the time, which makes him a possible suspect. All of a sudden, they send Piquart to Algeria because they want to change his office. And before Picquart leaves he gives information about Dreyfus to Georges Clemenceau, Anatole France, and Jean Jaures because he still believes that Dreyfus is innocent. The army then decides to agree with Picquart and they hold a trial against Esterhazy. But he is found innocent, so the military holds a second trial on Dreyfus. Picquart then comes back to justify against Esterhazy. But Picquart is found "guilty" and he is sent to prison (he is not actually guilty, but the army wants to get rid of him), and Esterhazi is found innocent. So, now the army has taken over and Dreyfus is stuck in prison for good. But then a man names Emile Zola, comes and he writes and "open letter" named "J'accuse". Emile Zola is a doctor, a famous writer, and a very social man. People read his letter and see that Dreyfus is innocent and is a good man after all. Emile Zola's letter explains that Dreyfus was set up because of his cultural background and religion. Therefore, there is a new trial on Dreyfus. The people of France are very scared because they know that the army could get dangerous and might make a "coup d'etat" (they may seize power). Unfortunately, Dreyfus is found guilty once again but at that time there was a republican government so they give Dreyfus a "pardon", they forgive him. Dreyfus accepts their pardon and he is finally let free. The word gets around that