Describe any four measures which were introduced by the French Revolutionaries to create a sense of collective identity amongst the French people.

OR

Which were the two major problems before the French in the field of colonial education in Vietnam? How did they try to solve these problems? Explain.

The French revolutionaries introduced various measures and practices that could create a sense of collective identity amongst the French people. They were-

(i) The ideas of la patrie (the fatherland) and le citoyen (the citizen) emphasised the notion of a united community enjoying equal rights under a constitution.

(ii) A new French flag, the tricolour, was chosen to replace the former royal standard. The Estates General was elected by the body of active citizens and renamed the National Assembly.

(iii) New hymns were composed, oaths taken and martyrs commemorated, all in the name of the nation.

(iv) A centralised administrative system was put in place and it formulated uniform laws for all citizens within its territory. Internal customs duties and dues were abolished and a uniform system of weights and measures was adopted.

OR

The problems the French faced in the sphere of education in Vietnam were-

(i) How far the Vietnamese were to be educated was a question. The French needed an educated local labour force but they feared that education might create problems. The French citizens living in Vietnam began fearing that they might lose their jobs to the educated Vietnamese.

(ii) Another problem in the sphere of education was that the elites in Vietnam were powerfully influenced by Chinese culture. To consolidate their power, the French had to counter this Chinese influence.

(iii) So they systematically dismantled the traditional educational system and established French schools for the Vietnamese.

(iv) A deliberate policy of failing students was adopted, particularly in the final year, so that they could not qualify for the better-paid jobs.