Question

What steps did the French revolutionaries take to create a sense of collective identity among the French people?

Answer 1

The French Revolutionaries took various measures to instill a sense of collective identity among people of France. The measure are given below:

National Language

• French language, the way it was written and spoken in Paris, was encouraged and went on to become the National Language.
• Regional dialects of the language were not encouraged.

Symbol of the Nation – New National Flag

• The former Royal Standard was replaced by the tricolour which was the new flag for French Nation.
• Martyrs were commemorated.
• Oaths were taken.
• There was the composition of hymns.

Equal Rights

• The Constitution envisaged a united community, with all the citizens having equal rights.
• The idea of le citoyen (the citizen) and la patrie (the fatherland) was propagated.

Political

• The body of active citizens elected Estates General, which was later renamed as the National Assembly.

Administration

• There was abolition of internal customs and dues.
• Within the territory of France, a uniform law was formulated for all the citizens of France.
• Led to establishment of Centralised Administrative System.

Weights and Measures

• There was adoption of a universal system of measures and weights.