Final answer:
Under the National Convention, radical Jacobins attempted to de-Christianize France by transforming Notre Dame into a 'temple of reason' and introducing a republican calendar. These efforts faced strong resistance, particularly from Christian peasants, and were eventually reversed. The movement was part of a broader series of social reforms that reshaped French society and reduced the influence of the Catholic Church.
Step-by-step explanation:
Efforts to De-Christianize France Under the National Convention
During the National Convention, the radical Jacobins, influenced by Enlightenment ideas of reason and virtue, embarked on a campaign to de-Christianize France. They perceived the Catholic Church as an impediment to their revolutionary ideals and sought to remove its influence. One of the most symbolic acts was the transformation of the Notre Dame cathedral into a temple of reason. Despite these efforts, the movement faced strong resistance, particularly from peasants who firmly held onto their Christian faith. This resistance contributed to the eventual failure of the de-Christianization campaign.
A notable cultural change was the introduction of the republican calendar, which replaced the Gregorian calendar. The new calendar was based on natural cycles and renamed the months with non-religious connotations, embodying the secular aspirations of the revolution. However, it contained contradictions, such as the inclusion of random leap days, and was later abandoned.
Major social changes occurred as a result of various revolutionary activities, such as the suppression of the monarchy, and processes like the trial and execution of King Louis XVI. Political struggles among different revolutionary groups shaped the direction of these reforms. The wider legacy of such radical changes, including the separation of church and state following the Dreyfus Affair and the later establishment of public schools, reduced the Roman Catholic Church's power over social institutions like education.