Explain french revolution

The French Revolution in 1789 was an influential event that marked the age of revolutions in Europe. The major outcome of the revolution was the formation of a constitutional monarchy and a sizeable reduction in the royal and feudal privileges.

It paved the way for the achievement of bigger goals of national identity and national pride, which can be aptly called nationalism.

The revolutionaries referred to France as la patrie or the fatherland, where all citizens, known as le citoyen, enjoyed equal rights under the constitution. The revolutionaries tried to establish a collective French identity for the people by adopting French flag, composing nationalistic songs and hymns, discouraging the use of regional dialects and adopting French as the common language of France.

The French Revolution had its impact on the administration as well.

• A body of active citizens, elected the Estates General and renamed it the National Assembly.
• A centralised administrative system was created formulating uniform laws for all French citizens.
• All internal custom duties and dues were abolished.
• A uniform system of weights and measures was adopted.

The metric system was founded by France in 1791. The French revolutionaries also took it upon themselves to help other European countries to overcome autocracy and form nations. The French armies were welcomed by European countries like Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy in the 1790s.