Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

The French Revolution of 1789 was the first clear expression of nationalism. The revolutionaries introduced several measures to create a sense of collective identity among the French people:

1. La patrie and le citoyen – The ideas of 'the fatherland' and 'the citizen' emphasised a united community enjoying equal rights under a constitution.
2. New French flag – The tricolour replaced the former royal standard, becoming a symbol of national unity.
3. National Assembly – The Estates General was renamed, elected by active citizens.
4. Common culture – New hymns were composed, oaths taken, and martyrs commemorated in the name of the nation.
5. Uniform laws and administration – A centralised system with uniform laws was established; internal customs duties were abolished and a uniform system of weights and measures adopted.
6. Common language – Regional dialects were discouraged; Parisian French became the national language.

These steps forged a shared national identity among French citizens.

Source: Chapter 1 – The Rise of Nationalism in Europe, Section: The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation

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• Examiners expect 6 distinct points for a 5-mark answer (each point earns ~1 mark; the intro ties them together).
• Stick to textbook language: "la patrie," "le citoyen," "tricolour," "National Assembly" — these specific terms show accuracy.
• Do not drift into Napoleon or the spread of nationalism abroad — the question is specifically about collective identity among the French people.
• A brief introductory line + bullet points is the most scoring format here.