NOTES

History
Chapter --1

The French Revolution

Q1) What were the causes responsible for the French Revolution?
Or
What were the circumstances in France that led to the revolution of 1789 in France?

A1) The causes responsible for the French Revolution were--

1) Society of Estates-- The French society was divided into three sections or Estates.
The first estate consisted of the clergy .The second estate consisted of nobility and the
third estate comprised of the common people, which included businessman, lawyers
and labourers etc. The third estate paid all the taxes to the church and also to the king.
The clergy and nobility too enjoyed all the privileges but paid no taxes .90% of people
lived in poverty and had no political rights. This discrimination led to dissatisfaction and
unrest among the French people.

2) Subsistence crisis-- In 1789, the demand for food crisis increased as the population
had increased to 28 million. The wages of the workers did not increase and hence found
it difficult to meet their basic needs. As the prices of the bread increased people were
unable to buy them. Severe winter accompanied by drought or hail reduced the harvest,
adding to their hardship and miseries of the French people. This led them to protest and
revolt against the old regime.

3) Empty treasury The French rulers had wasted a lot of money in wars. Louis XVI took
loans and helped the American colonies in their war against Great Britain. There was no
money left even to rule the government or take care of the French people. Money
lenders who gave state credit began to charge 10% interest on loans. All this led to an
empty treasury of France. As a result, to resolve this problem, a proposal of increase of
taxes was sent to the Estate General meeting.

This increase of taxes caused the lot of anger and disappointment among the Third
Estate French people.

4) Strong middle class --The middle class in France advocated and believed in the
ideals of equality and freedom promoted by the various philosophers. They were
against absolute powers of the king on hereditary basis. They believed in merit.
Philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau etc guided and inspired the
French people for a revolution.

5) Irresponsible behaviour of Louis XVI-- Louis XVI was young and irresponsible. He
showed no concern for the French people and for the country. He spent a lot of money
to maintain his luxurious lifestyle which increased credit and loans on France .Added to
this problem, was the continuous interference on Marie Antoinette, the queen of France
in the administration of the country.

6) Proposal to increase taxes-- Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estate General to

increase the tax so that he could acquire more money to meet his expenses. He wanted
the proposal to be voted in the Estate General on the basis of one estate, one vote
rather than on the principle of per representative one vote as demanded by the
representatives of the Third estate. As a result the third estate members walked out of
the meeting hall and later form the National Assembly.

Q2) Which incidence triggered off the French revolution?

A2) a) On the morning of 14th July 1789, the citizens of Paris were in a state of alarm.
b) Rumours spread that the king would soon order the army to open fire upon the citizens.

c) Some 7000 men and women gathered in front of the Town Hall and decided to form a
people's militia.

d) They broke into a number of government buildings in search of arms.

e) In the armed fight that followed, the commander of Bastille prison was killed and the
prisoners released.
This incident triggered of the French revolution.

Q3) Discuss the role of philosophers in inspiring the French people for a revolution?

A3) (i) The French philosophers created an atmosphere of critical thinking among the
French and inspired them to fight for their rights.

(ii) These philosophers believed in a society based on freedom, Right to equality and
opportunities for all.

(iii) The three most famous philosophers were —

a) John Locke —In the book ‘Two Treatises of Government’ which he wrote was against
the absolute and divine powers of the monarch.

b) Jean Jacques Rousseau --He wrote the book’ The Social Contract’ where he
proposed a form of government based on social contract between the people and their
representatives.

c) Charles Montesquieu --He wrote 'The Spirit of the Laws ‘and proposed a division of
power within the government between the legislature, executive and judiciary.

d) The ideas of these philosophers were discussed in salons, coffee shops and was
spread among people through books and newspapers that inspired the French people to
fight against injustice and inequality.
Q4) Discuss the incidence which led to the formation of National Assembly and drafting
of the Constitution of 1791?

AA) (i) On 5th May 1789, Louis XVI called for together an assembly of the Estate general
to pass proposal for new taxes.

(ii) The first and the second state sent 300 representatives each and the third estate
sent 600 representative each.

(iii) The third estate was represented by its more prosperous and educated members.
(iv) Voting in the Estate general in the past had been conducted according to the
principle that each Estate had one vote and Louis XVI was determined to continue the
same practice.

(v)The members of the third Estate demanded the voting not to be conducted by the
assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.

(vi)When the king rejected this proposal, members of the third estate walked out of the
assembly in protest.

(vii)On June 20, assembled in the hall of an Indoor Tennis Court in the grounds of
Versailles. They declared themselves as a National Assembly and swore not to disperse
till they had drafted a constitution for France that would limit the powers of the monarch.
They were led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes, who were the members of the Second and
the First Estate respectively.

Q5) Explain the main features of the Constitution of 1791?

A5) The main features of the constitution of 1791were-

i) The main objective of the constitution of 1791 was to limit the powers of the
monarch. ii) The powers of the Government were divided and assigned to legislature,
executive and judiciary.

iii) The constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly,
which was indirectly elected.

iv) The French people was divided into Active and Passive citizens. The Active citizens
were supposed to be only men above the age of 25 and who paid taxes equal to a wage
of a labourer for 3 days. They were allowed to vote.

v) The remaining men, all women and children were classified as Passive citizens and
were not given the right to vote.

vi) To qualify as an Elector and then as a member of the National Assembly, a man had
to belong to the bracket of highest tax payer.

vii) The constitution began with the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Rights
such as Right to life, freedom of speech and opinion, Equality before law was
established as’ natural and non- alienable rights’.

Q6) Describe the events that led to the National Convention to come into power.

A6) The events that led to the formation of National Convention were—

i) In the summer of 1792, the Jacobins planned an insurrection which led a

large number of angry people to protest because they were disappointed by
the short supplies and high prices of food items.

ii) On the morning of 10th August, they stormed the palace of Tuileries, killed
the guards and imprisoned Louis XVI along with the royal family.

iii) Elections were held and all men above the age of 21 years, regardless of
wealth were given the Right to vote.

iv) This newly elected assembly of representatives was called the National
Convention.

v) Under it France was declared a republic leading to complete abolition of

monarchy.
Q7)'The period from 1793-94 is referred to as the ‘Reign of Terror’. Explain why?
A7) The period from 1793-94 is referred to as the ‘Reign of Terror’ because—
i) Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.

ii)All those whom, he saw as being ‘enemies ‘of the republic-ex-nobles, clergy ,;nembers
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.

iii) If the court found them ‘guilty’ they were guillotined.

Q8) What were the measures taken by Robespierre government to establish equality in
France?

A8) The measures taken by Robespierre government to establish equality in France

were—

i) Robespierre’s government issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and

prices.

ii) Meat and bread was rationed.

iii) Peasants were forced to transport their grains to the cities and sell it at prices fixed
by the government.

iv)’Pain d’egalite’or equality bread was to be used instead of more expensive white flour
bread by all the French citizens.

v) Equality was also sought to be practiced through forms of speech and address.
Henceforth all French people were to be addressed as Citoyen and Citoyenne.

vi) Churches were shut down and buildings converted into barracks or offices.

Q9) What steps were taken by the Revolutionary government to uplift the condition of
the women in French society?

AQ) Steps taken by the Revolutionary government to uplift the condition of the women in
French society were—

i) Schooling was made compulsory for girls.

ii) Fathers could not force their girl child into marriage.

iii) Marriage was made into a contract entered into freely and registered under civil law.
iv) Divorce was made legal and could be applied by both men and women.

v) Women could train for jobs and could run business or become artist.

Q10) How was the abolition of censorship one of the most important laws that came
into effect in 1789?

A10) Abolition of censorship came into effect soon after the fall of the prison of Bastille.
As a result the following changes were noticed---

i) Freedom of speech and expression became the’ Natural right’ of the French people.
ii) Newspapers, pamphlets, book etc flooded the towns and the countryside of France.

iii) The French people read with great interest about the events that were taking place
throughout France.

iv) Freedom of press was now meant that opposing views of events could be freely
expressed by the people.

v) Plays, songs etc now began to attract a large number of people's attention as it gave
them an opportunity to express their thoughts.

Q11) Compare the achievements of National Assembly and National Convention—-

Q12) What was the impact of the French revolution?
A12) The impact of French revolution was—
i) French revolution marked the end of absolute monarchy and paved the way
for a rebellion government.
ii) It also helped to uphold the theory of Liberty uphold the theory of liberty and
laid the foundation of democratic principles to be practiced.
iii) The slogan of equality, liberty and fraternity was popularised after this
revolution.
iv) Feudalism and serfdom was abolished and the power of clergy checked.
v) The common people of France were given the right to vote.
vi) New reforms like compulsory schooling for girls were introduced during
Jacobean period.

Q13)'The years following 1789 in France saw many changes in the lives of women and
children in the country.’ Justify the statement.

A13) The years following 1789 in France saw many changes in the lives of men, women
and children in the country because—

a) The Revolutionary government which brought equality and liberty for the French
people like meat and bread were rationed.

b) The National Assembly gave some basic rights to the French people like Right to life.
c) The National Convention introduced some laws that helped to improve the lives of
the French people like declaring France as a republic, abolition of monarchy and all men
were given the right to vote.
d) In 1789, censorship was abolished which give the French people the freedom to
express and helped in the circulation of ideas through print.

e) The common people worked towards achieving justice, equality and brotherhood.
These ideals were borne out of the French revolution.

Q14) On an outline political map of France/World, locate and label or identify the
following—

i) Paris—Capital of France
ii) Marseilles—Place from which the National Anthem of France gets its name.
iii) Nantes—Port of France

iv) Bordeaux-- Port of France

Q15. What was the legacy of the French Revolution ?
A 15. The legacy of the French Revolution is as follows :
i. The French Revolution established Right to Equality, Liberty, Justice, equal opportunities for
all
citizens,Right to vote, Right to Life, Equality before Law,Freedom of speech and opinion as
Natural
and inalienable rights of Man.
ii. It created feeling of Nationalism and gave the idea of creation of sovereign nation.
iii. It defined the role of government and Constitution in a sovereign nation.
iv. It gave the idea of Republic and rejected hereditary rule of a monarch.
v. It inspired the European countries and colonies of the World to fight against foreign rule and
gain independence.
vi. It established the division of power between the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
vii. It gave the idea of one person, one vote.
viii. It established the importance of national flag, national symbols and national anthem in a
sovereign nation.