Ch – 1 French Revolution - 1789
Textual questions
Q1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France?
→ Political Causes:
Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. France had a
debt of more than 2 billion livres. To meet its regular expenses, such as the
cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or
universities, the state was forced to increase taxes which angered the people.
→ Economic Problems:
The population of France also increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million
in 1789. Food grains were now in great demand. The price of bread shot up.
Wages did not keep pace with rising prices. This led to subsistence crisis.
→ Strong Middle Class: A new educated
and wealthy middle class emerged during the eighteenth century. They believed
that no group in society should be given
privileges by birth. Ideas of equality and freedom were put forward by
philosophers. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in
salons and coffee houses and spread among peopl
→ Immediate Causes: On
5 may, 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of Estates General to pass
proposals for new taxes. Third estates protested against this proposal but as
each estate have one vote, the king rejected this appeal. They walked out of the
assembly.
Q2. Which groups of
French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were forced to
relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with
the outcome of the revolution?
Answer. It was the richer
members of the third estate who mostly benefited from the French Revolution.
The clergy and the nobility were forced to relinquish (surrender) their power.
The poor class of third estate and women would have been disappointed with the
outcome of the revolution as the promise of equality, discussed during the
revolution was not given. The poorer classes had no right to vote.
Q3. Describe the legacy
of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries.
Answer. The ideas of liberty and
democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution.
These spread from France to the rest of
Europe during the nineteenth century, where feudal systems were abolished. It
inspired the Germans, Italians, and Austrians to overthrow their oppressive
regimes. The French Revolution inspired the struggling nations of Asia and
Africa who were groaning under the oppression of European colonialism. Tipu
Sultan and Rajaram Mohan Roy are two examples of individuals who responded to
ideas coming from French revolution.
4. Draw up a list of
democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French
Revolution.
Answer- We can trace the origin of the
following democratic rights we enjoy today to the French revolution:
→ Right to Equality
before law
→ Freedom of Speech and
expression
→
Right against exploitation
→
Right to justice
5. Would you agree with
the view that the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions?
Explain.
Answer
Yes, the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions: Law is the
expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to participate in
its formation, personally or through their representatives. - In this line, it
is stated that every citizen has the right to participate in the law however
only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a
labourer’s wage were given voting right. The remaining men and all women were
classed as passive citizens and were deprived of voting rights. Hence, the
message of universal rights was not very clear. The Constitution is only
available for the rich. Women were totally neglected in decision making
Q6. How would you
explain the rise of Napoleon?
Answer
-After Robespierre's rule came to an end a directory was formed to avoid
concentration of power in one individual. Members of the directory often fought
among themselves leading to political instability. This created a political
vacuum in France. This was a conducive situation and Napoleon Bonaparte took
the reign of power as a military dictator. Napoleon saw his role as a
moderniser of Europe. He introduced many laws such as the protection of private
property and a uniform system of weights and measures provided by the decimal
system.
EXTRA QUESTIONS (vimp)
Q1. When did the French
revolution began?
Ans: 14th July
1789
Q2. Which Estate of
French revolution paid all taxes ?
Ans : third Estate
Q3.Which social group
emerged in the 18 century in Europe
Ans : Middle class
Q4. When was the
fortress prison demolished by the people?
Ans: 14th July
1789
Q5.Name the tax which
was charged by church from peasants.
Ans: Tithes
Q.5. Describe the
ideology of any three philosophers who influenced French revolution.
} John
locke - freedome and equal law
} Jean-jacques
Rousseau-peoples sovereignty. Opportunity for all
} Montesquieu-
separation of powers between legislature executive and judiciary
} Voltaire-
freedom of speech and expression
Q6.Name the ports of
france where the slave trade was carried out .
Ans :Nantes or Bordeaux
Q7 . What were Tithe and Taille?
i) Tithes- It was a tax levied by the church
comprising of one-tenth of the agricultural produce.
ii) Taille- It was a tax to be paid directly to the state
ii) Taille- It was a tax to be paid directly to the state
Q8 What was directory
rule.
Ans : it was five
member committee which governed France When the political power passed into the
hands of the wealthier middle class . it was meant as a safeguard against the
concentration of power in the hand of one man executive as under the Jacobins.
Q 9What was Guillotine?
Ans : It was a device
consisting of two poles and a blade using which a person was behaded. It was
named after Dr. Joseph Guillotene who invented it.
Q10Name the important
political club formed by women in France.
Ans: The society of
Revolutionary and Republican women
Q 11. When did French women
got the political rights?
Ans: In 1946
Q12. Between which
three continents was the slave trade carried out
.
Ans: Triangular slave
trade was carried out between Europe Africa and America.
Q13
. What was the Estates General?
Ans . The Estates General
was a political body to which the three estates sent their representatives. This
was the body which had the power to
pass or reject the proposals for new taxes made by the monarch.
Q14. Who was Robespierre? Why is
his reign referred as ‘‘The Reign of Terror’’?
A. Maximilian Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobins Club . His reign( 1793-1794) is referred to as the reign of terror because:
・Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment. All those whom he saw as being 'enemies' of the republic - ex-nobles and clergy, members of other political parties, even members of his own party who did not agree with his methods - were arrested, imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary tribunal. If the court found them 'guilty' they were guillotined.
・Finally, he was convicted by a court in July 1794, arrested and on the next day sent to the guillotine.
A. Maximilian Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobins Club . His reign( 1793-1794) is referred to as the reign of terror because:
・Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment. All those whom he saw as being 'enemies' of the republic - ex-nobles and clergy, members of other political parties, even members of his own party who did not agree with his methods - were arrested, imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary tribunal. If the court found them 'guilty' they were guillotined.
・Finally, he was convicted by a court in July 1794, arrested and on the next day sent to the guillotine.
map work ?
Mark and locate the
following with the help of maps :
1) Nantes/Bourdeaux
2)Prussia
3)Austria
4)France
5)Belgium
6)triangular slave trade
Others
Q1. Who were the passive citizens?
Ans. Passive citizens were the men and all women who were not entitled to vote.
Q2. Who were
the active citizens?
Ans . Active citizens were the men who were above
25 years of age and paid taxes equal to at 3 days of a labourer's wage. These
citizens had the right to vote.
Q3. What were the changes introduced by Napoleon Bonaparte in France?
Ans. Changes introduced by Napoleon were-・Laws ensuring protection of private property・Unifrorm system of weights and measures provided by the decimal system・Reintroduction of slavery
Q4.
What was the importance of the declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
under the constitution of 1791 of France?
Ans
. The
Rights of Man and Citizen established rights such as the right to life, freedom
of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law as natural and inalienable
rights i.e. these rights belonged to each human being by birth and could not be
taken away. It was the duty of the state to protect each citizen's natural
rights
Q5.
Describe the main features of the constitution of 1791 drafted by the National
Assembly.
Ans. i) The constitution
separated powers and assigned them to different institutions- legislature,
executive and judiciary.
ii)
It made France a constitutional monarchy.
iii)
It vested the powers to make laws in the National Assembly wich was indirectly
elected.
iv)
Active citizens chose a group of electors who in turn chose the Assembly.
Passive citizens had no voting rights.
Q6.
Write a short note on the Jacobins club.
Ans
. i)
The Jacobins club was the most successful political club in France, which
got its name from the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris.
ii)
The members of this club were mainly artisans, watch makers, printers etc.
iii)
Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.
iv)
They were also known as sans culottes because of their unique
style of clothing.
v)
In summer of 1792, they planned an insurrection of a large number of Parisians
who were angered by short food supplies and high prices.
vi)
On 10 August 1792, they stormed the palace of Tuileries, massacred the king's
guards and held him hostage for several hours.
Q7.
Write a short note on the slave trade.
Ans
i)
The slave trade began in the 17th century between Europe, Africa and Americas.
ii)
French merchants sailed from ports like Bordeaux or Nantes to the African coast
where they bought slaves from the local chieftains.
iii)
These slaves were transported across the Atlantic to Caribbean colonies like
Martinique, Guadeloupe and San Domingo and sold to plantation owners.
iv)
These were important suppliers of tobacco, sugar, coffee and indigo, but the
reluctance of Europeans to go and work there caused shortage of labour on the
plantations.
v)
The slave trade fulfilled this demand for labour.
vi)
The exploitation of these slaves made it possible to meet the growing demand in
Europe for sugar, coffee and indigo.
Q8. mention any three symbols used during theFrench Revolution to communicate ideas.
Ans.
Broken chain : were used to fetter slaves. a broken chain stands for the act of becoming free.
The bundle of roads fasces: One road can be easily broken ,but not an entire bundle. strength lie in unity.
Sceptre:Symbol of royal power
Q8. mention any three symbols used during theFrench Revolution to communicate ideas.
Ans.
Broken chain : were used to fetter slaves. a broken chain stands for the act of becoming free.
The bundle of roads fasces: One road can be easily broken ,but not an entire bundle. strength lie in unity.
Sceptre:Symbol of royal power
