The French have long been legendary for their ability to organize and protest but it’s important to know that this isn’t entirely because of the French Revolution. The events of May 1968 played a critical role too.
The May 68 movement began with students, inspired by Marxist and anarchist ideas, protesting against university conditions, rigid schooling, and conservative pro-capitalist teaching. After months of conflict with university officials and police, the government shut down the Sorbonne and Nanterre universities in Paris at the beginning of May. This triggered even more protests with students eventually occupying the two universities. At the same time the French working class were frustrated with stagnated wages and poor working conditions, and the brutal repression faced by students inspired mass support.
