How did the French Revolution contribute to “modern day” nationalism?

The French Revolution contributed to modern-day nationalism by encouraging the citizenry to engage in self-determination within a nation. The French Revolution began through the establishment of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a charter drafted by the National Assembly in 1789. The charter mentioned equality and liberty for French citizens and all people of the world. The document was a milestone for democratic and liberal nationalism that would come to define modern-day nationalism in the coming centuries. Like the United States, French revolutionaries championed freedom and equality as a unifying principle among citizens. France was among the earliest societies that encouraged common citizens to have a voice in a nation. Such ideals were departures from previous attitudes, where authoritarian monarchs typically ruled European societies, and previous generations primarily pledged allegiance to a city-state, church, or ethnic group.
During the revolution, France shifted from a constitutional monarchy to its first republic, with a unified government and universal suffrage for adult males. The idea of a people’s state pioneered a new concept, as nationalism did not gain a strong foothold throughout Europe until the 19th century and onward. France was among the earliest nations to establish a national republic. With that, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated power during the revolution and was eventually declared emperor of France in 1804. However, Napoleon’s global conquests spread the ideals of nationalism into Europe, Africa, the Near East, and Latin America.

The French Revolution contributed to "modern day" nationalism by essentially making the power of the people known. Nationalism is most prevalent during times of turmoil and destruction and this was exactly the case during the French Revolution. Their economy was going bankrupt, crops were failing, and the prices of common goods like bread were going way up. The "Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens" was established in 1789 and effectively served as a blueprint for modern day nationalism. This declaration was a civil rights document that established what are now common freedoms such as freedom of speech, equality, and a government represented by the people. There were many questions that followed this document regarding the powers of the king and the clergy though. This led to more destruction and division but the idea that the people should have some form of power remained. Nationalism today is a feeling of inclusiveness and a ground where all people and parties can come together as one. The French Revolution embodied that sentiment from 1789 up until the Napoleonic era began in 1799.

The French Revolution contributed to the modern concept of nationalism by aiding in the creation of national identity. In early modern Europe, most people identified with their ethnic heritage, their religion, or their city. A Catholic person from Venice would not have called themselves Italian, because the modern nation of Italy did not exist. This was due to the large empires that ruled over several European countries. Without an independent nation, many lacked a national identity. This concept gained popularity during the French Revolution, because revolutionaries used it as a tool to gain support for the movement. There was a call to unify the French people, and this resulted in pride for one's nation. Today, one's country is a defining point for their identity. A person now calls themselves American, French, Croatian, Greek, etc. because they identify with their nation. When empires collapsed and countries gained independence, those citizens found national identity.