The Dreyfus Affair had a profound impact on French society and politics, exposing deep divisions related to anti-Semitism and the military's role in governance. The affair began in 1894 when Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer, was falsely accused of treason. It led to a public outcry, divided the nation into pro-Dreyfusards and anti-Dreyfusards, and ultimately resulted in Dreyfus’s exoneration in 1906. The case emphasized the need for justice and civil rights, and it catalyzed the emergence of modern anti-Semitism in Europe, influencing political thought and movements for decades to come.