Established by people's committees with the assistance of Chen Duxiu, Zhou Enlai, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),[1] the commune briefly administered the city of Shanghai before its forceful dissolution by order of Chiang Kai-shek.

[1] After seizing the city by 6pm, they, along with soviets organized by strikers, established the Shanghai Provisional Municipal Government along the lines of the Paris Commune.

[5] After receiving word of its formation, Chiang Kai-shek demanded that the Shanghai Commune be dissolved, and appointed Right KMT officials as heads of a future provincial government.

Chen Duxiu would then hold a meeting with members of the CCP, including Zhou Enlai, preparing for conflict with Chiang Kai-shek.

However, the municipal government would have to garner support in resistance against Chiang from both the Kuomintang's Left Faction, and the Communist International.