Question

why did france take up the idea of civilizing mission during mid 19 century?

Answer 1

The ‘Civilising Mission’ undertaken by France was mainly to find a foothold in countries such as Algeria, West Africa, India and countries already occupied by the Portuguese and for subsequent colonisation.  

They did this under the pretext of bringing culture and civilisation to these undeveloped countries and its indigenous people. France tried to spread the ideology of ‘Assimilation’ in which the indigenous people would be ‘Westernised’, and brought into the mainstream.