Final answer:
The French revolutionaries took several steps to create a sense of collective identity among the French people, including abolishing privileges of the nobles, making religion subservient to a secular government, and calling upon the whole 'nation' to take up arms. They also sang a national anthem, drafted the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and fought for la patrie, the fatherland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The French revolutionaries took several steps to create a sense of collective identity among the French people. Firstly, they declared that they represented the whole 'nation' and not just a certain part of it. They abolished the legal privileges of the nobles and made religion subservient to a secular government. They also called upon the whole 'nation' to take up arms when threatened by conservative powers.
Additionally, the revolutionary armies sang a national anthem, the Marseillaise, which helped in fostering a sense of collective identity. Fighting for la patrie, the fatherland, became central to French national identity during the revolutionary period. The revolutionaries also drafted the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which provided basic rights and liberties to the people of France and emphasized the principles of equality before the law and freedom of religion.
By inspiring loyalty to the state and rallying the people around common goals and values, the French revolutionaries successfully created a strong sense of collective identity among the French people.