The first clear cut expression of nationalism came in France with the French Revolution. To make the Revolution a success it was very important to instill a sense of unity in every citizen. To achieve it, various measures and practices were followed:
(i) A new French flag, the tricolour, was chosen to replace the former royal standard.
(ii) The Estates General was elected by the body of active citizens and renamed the National Assembly.
(iii) The ideas of la patrie (the fatherland) and le citoyen (the citizen) emphasised the nation of a united community enjoying equal rights under a constitution.
(iv) New hymns were composed, oaths taken and martyrs commemorated, all in the name of the nation.
(v) A centralised administrative system practising uniform laws for all citizens within its territory was set up.
(vi) Internal custom duties and dues were abolished and a uniform system of weights and measures was adopted.
(vii) Regional languages were discouraged and French was adopted as the common language of the nation.
