Primary Source Analysis: The French Revolution Of 1789

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Recommended: Significance and impact of the french revolution

Connor Holohan
Western Civilization
Professor Schandler
14, October 2015
Primary Source Analysis The French Revolution of 1789 led to an emphasis on simple flag designs that conveyed the fundamental changes being introduced into social, political, and economic life. The French flag was influenced by a number of things in the French Revolution and I believe it would be very interesting to dive further into the connections between the two. Before the revolution, France had been traditionally represented by a plain white flag, which signified purity and strength. In the early days of the French Revolution, the three colors, blue, white and red, were initially brought together in the form of a cockade. In July 1789, just before the taking …show more content…

It is said that white color is associated with the Virgin Mary, the patroness of France, and was the color of the oriflamme. The blue was to be the color of Saint Martin who was a Gallo-Roman officer who ripped his blue coat with his sword and gave one half of it to the poor. This is meant to be a symbol of care and of the duty that the rich had to help the poor. The color red was said to be the color of Saint Denis who is the patron saint of Paris. The colors of the French flag may also represent the three main estates of France at the time, the clergy: white, the nobility: red, and the citizens: blue. Blue, as the symbol of class, comes first and red, representing the nobility, comes last. Both extreme colors are situated on each side of white referring to a superior order (Davis). Today, most French people agree that they serve three beautiful colors: the blue of their history, the white of their hopes, and the red of the blood of their …show more content…

Their flag was a symbol of their nation’s values and ideology and each color is unique in it’s own way. The tricolors symbolize its history and how things were before the revolution. During times of conflict, the tricolor was used for such things as uniforms and banners to represent their country. The development of the colors and shape of the flag took a lot of time and thought and rightly represents France’s rich history. Today, the French flag can be seen on all public buildings and on national commemorations. It is a national symbol of France’s rich history and points forth to their hopeful future. Therefore, France’s tricolor flag held great importance in the French Revolution.

Works Cited
Smith, Whitney. "Flag of France." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.
Klos, S. (2001, November 6). Marquis De Lafayette. Retrieved October 14, 2015.

Sache, I. (2013, November 25). Kingdom of France: 1830-1848. Retrieved October 14, 2015.

Davis, J. (2012, December 12). Why do many flags look so similar?FAQ. Retrieved October 14, 2015.

Doyle, W. (2005, September 7). The French revolution of 1848European history summary France. Retrieved October 14,

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