> What French view as the French identity very much is a post-revolutionary idea which was mercilessly spread through the eradication of regional cultures and l

> What French view as the French identity very much is a post-revolutionary idea which was mercilessly spread through the eradication of regional cultures and languages and the standard curriculum by public schools during the nineteenth century. While there's no doubt that unspeakable horrors were done in the name of forging a collective narrative later on, it's also wrong to claim that's the origin of the french identity. During the _états généraux_ people who had a strong regional bond also sought to collaborate and build alliances outside of their group (e.g. the _club Breton_ [1], which grew into the _club des Jacobins_). Collaboration and common interests forged a new identity overlapping existing identities. If this process hadn't happened, there would never have been new revolutions happening simultaneously across France in the 19th century, way before the 3rd republic's schools opened. That process is pretty similar to post-revolution US colonies growing (and figuring out the details, and, at times, arguing about it) a new sense of common future on top of their existing independent identity. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Breton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Breton