The idea of nationalism did not come close to meaning the same thing as it did before the French Revolution. Beforehand, language did not unite people, because there were over 30 languages spoken in France. People had no real sense of identity, and regions had distinctive cultural identities that had nothing to do with the nation. Taxes, laws, dialects and even systems of measurement differed depending on region. There was no concept of citizen, and people fought for random countries in wars. There were also no national symbols of unity, such as national anthems or flags. The French Revolution worked to consolidate the French identity. They created the tricolour, which became the national flag and symbol or national unity. Revolutionary songs such as the La Marsailles became the national anthem. It worked on national laws and taxation systems, and gave a desirable constitution. The French Revolutionary wars also contributed by excluding enemies to consolidate the national identity, and ensuring only French people fought for France. These ideas spread throughout Europe, creating, what we know today as nationalism. Jess Bishop
After the French Revolution, there was a shift in the perception of what determined a nation. In France especially, saw the unification of society in terms of its culture. This is seen in the use of “La Marseillaise” as the national anthem, with lyrics that include ideas associated with establishing solidarity as well as the unity of the people as equal ‘citizens’. The use of passports also established identity in terms of which nation they belonged to and which nation they were entering as foreigners. In addition to this, the French mentality included perceiving all other foreign power as a threat, hence the rivalry with England. National symbols also served to play a role in establishing the identity of a nation. In France, this included the use of the tricolour flag, a symbol of liberty. There was also a national tax as opposed to regional taxes. National holidays were also created such as July 14, the anniversary of the taking of the Bastille. Overall, society was reformed in using these methods to establish who belonged within the nation and who was considered as foreign. Shani Wu
The idea of nationalism did not come close to meaning the same thing as it did before the French Revolution. Beforehand, language did not unite people, because there were over 30 languages spoken in France. People had no real sense of identity, and regions had distinctive cultural identities that had nothing to do with the nation. Taxes, laws, dialects and even systems of measurement differed depending on region. There was no concept of citizen, and people fought for random countries in wars. There were also no national symbols of unity, such as national anthems or flags. The French Revolution worked to consolidate the French identity. They created the tricolour, which became the national flag and symbol or national unity. Revolutionary songs such as the La Marsailles became the national anthem. It worked on national laws and taxation systems, and gave a desirable constitution. The French Revolutionary wars also contributed by excluding enemies to consolidate the national identity, and ensuring only French people fought for France. These ideas spread throughout Europe, creating, what we know today as nationalism.
ReplyDeleteJess Bishop
After the French Revolution, there was a shift in the perception of what determined a nation. In France especially, saw the unification of society in terms of its culture. This is seen in the use of “La Marseillaise” as the national anthem, with lyrics that include ideas associated with establishing solidarity as well as the unity of the people as equal ‘citizens’. The use of passports also established identity in terms of which nation they belonged to and which nation they were entering as foreigners. In addition to this, the French mentality included perceiving all other foreign power as a threat, hence the rivalry with England. National symbols also served to play a role in establishing the identity of a nation. In France, this included the use of the tricolour flag, a symbol of liberty. There was also a national tax as opposed to regional taxes. National holidays were also created such as July 14, the anniversary of the taking of the Bastille. Overall, society was reformed in using these methods to establish who belonged within the nation and who was considered as foreign.
ReplyDeleteShani Wu