The Republic explained to my friends

History of the French Republic
The Republic arose in 1792 after the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen in 1789; it was built by the people for the people. Despite several returns to monarchy and the empire in the nineteenth century, the Republic is guided by the same spirit. Thus, France's republican history is primarily a political construct of a community of citizens who are equal regardless of their social, ethnic, religious or other backgrounds.

Her foundations and principles
The French Republic is "one and indivisible", meaning that she is made up of equal citizens, not separate communities. The Republic thus enables unity to be combined with diversity, the "me" with the "we".
The two resulting principles are those of national sovereignty (top-down sovereignty, that of the nation-states) and popular sovereignty (bottom-up sovereignty, that of the people).
National sovereignty corresponds to the idea that every Nation, that assembly of citizens united by a common history, language and culture, retains control of the decisions which it has to make for the common good. Popular sovereignty is the essence of democracy: power proceeds from the people, who delegate it temporarily to their elected officials. Popular sovereignty is delegated but remains inalienable. The people are free to decide, to do and undo.

Her values
The Republic is not only indivisible but secular, democratic and social. "Social" refers to Equality, "democratic" to Liberty and "Secular" to Fraternity. She assigns priority to the general interest by relying on the public service to afford all the French, wherever they be in France, the benefit of the same access to knowledge, security and mobility. Education, the police and transport are public services.

Her symbols and attributes

The Marseillaise : France's national anthem. That "Battle song for the Army of the Rhine", composed in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle, is an invitation to battle tyranny and defend liberty.

Marianne : a woman in a Phrygian cap, rifle in one hand and tricolor flag in the other, leading the people to Liberty. She has symbolized the Republic since 1792.

Tricolor : blue and red, the colors of the city of Paris, flank white, the color of the monarchy.

The Republic's motto : "Liberty, equality, fraternity". That motto is carved on the pediments of the public buildings.