Question

why did france take up the idea of civilizing mission during mid nineteenth century give one reason

Answer 1

The intellectual origins of the mission civilisatrice can be traced back the Christian tradition dating from the Middle Ages. European thinkers had naturalized social change by using the development metaphor. In the eighteenth century, history became to be seen as an unilinear unending inevitable process of social evolutionism with the European nations running ahead.[1] Colonialists saw the "backward" nations as intrinsically incapable. "Progressive" thinkers like the Marquis de Condorcet postulated a holy duty to help those peoples "which, to civilize themselves, wait only to receive the means from us, to find brothers among Europeans and to become their friends and disciples".[2]

Evolutionist views survived colonialism. Modernization theorists declared that traditional customs had to be destroyed, traditional societies had to adapt[3] or to disappear.[4]

Development criticism sees development therefore as continuation of the colonial civilizing mission. To become civilized has always meant to become "like us", therefore "Civilizing" now meant that in the long run all societies had to become consumer societies[5] and renounce their native traditions and habits.

Answer 2

Hey fellow,

France was an intelligent country. They wanted to spread their culture and traditions throughout the nation. They thought of themselves as a civilized nation and therefore they decided to take up the project of spreading civilization during the mid nineteenth century.

They started to use french as the common language and initiated their traditions and customs everywhere. What better way to spread civilisation then the spread of a language.

Thanks for asking the question.

Thanks