What was the political goal of creating free, compulsory elementary education in late-nineteenth-century France?

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The political goal of creating free, compulsory elementary education in late-nineteenth-century France was to act as a nation-building tool in which all children would be taught secular, republican values. The government aimed to promote a sense of national unity and citizenship through a standardized education system that would create a shared culture and language, and instill values of individualism and civic responsibility. This was particularly important in a country that had recently undergone political turmoil and was struggling with regional identity and cultural diversity.

What Was the Political Goal of Creating Free, Compulsory Elementary