INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL, DAMMAM

BSS – HISTORY L-1 FRENCH REVOLUTION

CLASS – IX
1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary
protest in France. (5)
Ans: a) Louis XVI was an autocratic ruler who could not compromise on his
luxurious life.
b) When he ascended to throne, he found an empty treasury. Long years of war
had drained the financial resources of France.
c) Under Louis XVI France has helped the thirteen colonies of America to gain
their independence which added more than a billion livres to debt credit.
d) The state finally increased the taxes to meet its regular expenses like
maintaining an army, running government offices etc.
e) The French society divided into three estates and the first and second estates
were exempted from paying the taxes.
f) The newly emerged middle class were educated and they criticized the
privileges based on birth, divine rights of the king and absolute monarchy.
2. Describe the legacy of the French revolution for the people of the world
during the 19th and 20th centuries. (5)
Ans: a) The ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity spread from France to the
rest of Europe where feudal system was finally abolished.
b) The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of
the French revolution which inspired the political movements around the world
in 19th and 20th centuries.
c) Colonised people reworked the idea of freedom from bondage into their
movements to create a sovereign nation state.
d) the idea of Nationalism that emerged after the French revolution started
becoming mass movements all over the world.
e) In India Tipu Sultan and Rajaram Mohan Roy got deeply influenced by the
ideas of French revolution.
3. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could
be traced to the French revolution. (3)
Ans: Some of the democratic rights which we enjoy today can be traced to the
French revolution are as follows:
a) Right to equality including equality before law, prohibition of discrimination
and equality of opportunity in matters of employment.
b) Right to freedom of speech and expression including right to practice any
profession or occupation.
c) Right against exploitation.
d) Right to life
e) Right to vote.
4. Explain the rise and fall of Napoleon. (3)
a) The political instability of the Directory gave way for the rise of Napoleon
Bonaparte as a dictator.
b) he crowned himself as the ruler of France in 1804.
c) He adopted a policy of conquest and creating new kingdoms.
d) Initially he was seen as a modernizer and liberator.
e) He introduced many reforms like protection of private property, uniform
system of weights and measures etc.
f) Later he came to be viewed as an invader and got defeated in the battle of
Waterloo in 1815.
5. Describe the events that took place on 14th July 1789 in France. (3)
a) The King had ordered the troops to move into the city to suppress the
agitating crowds on 14th July 1789.
b) There were rumours that the king would soon order the troops to open fire at
the crowds.
c) Around 7000 men and women formed a militia and broke into a number of
government buildings in search of arms.
d) Then the fortress prison of Batille was stormed by the people and the
prisoners were freed.
6. What are the factors that led to subsistence crisis in France? (3)
Ans: a) The population of France increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28
million in 1789. This led to increase in demand for food grains.
b) When the production of food grains could not keep pace with the growing
demand, the price of bread which was the staple food increased rapidly.
c) On the other hand, the wages could not keep pace with rise in prices. The
situation got worst at the time of hail, drought or flood due to bad harvest.
7. Describe the major causes of the French Revolution. (3)
Ans: a) Long years of war and extravagance of the King led to financial crisis in
France. This forced the King to increase the taxes paid by the third estate.
b) The first and second estate enjoyed privileges by birth. They were exempted
from paying the taxes. This led to the revolution by the Third estate.
c) the population of France had increased which resulted in more demand for
food grains. This led to increase in prices of bread and poor people could not
afford to buy it.
d) The philosophers like John Locke, Rousseau and Montesquieu spread the
ideas of having a society where the people enjoy freedom, equal laws and equal
opportunities.
e) A major impact was also played by the Middle class who earned their wealth
through expanding trade of manufactured goods.
8. Explain the role of Philosophers in the thinking of the people of France.
(5)
Ans: a) Philosophers like John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau put forward
ideas envisaging a society based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities
for all.
b) In two treatise of the Government, John Locke sought to refute the doctrine
of the divine and absolute rights of the monarch.
c) His ideas were carried forward by Rousseau as he was proposing a form of
government based on social contract between people and their representatives.
d) In The spirit of the laws, Montesquieu proposed the division of power within
the government between the legislature, executive and the judiciary.
e) The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in saloons and
coffee houses and were spread among the people through books and
newspapers.
9. Explain the period known as “Reign of Terror”. (5)
Ans: a) The period from 1793 to 1794 is called as reign of terror as Robespierre
followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
b) Ex-nobles, clergy, members of other political parties and even members of
his own political party who did not agree with his methods were arrested,
imprisoned and guillotined.
c) Laws were issued by Robespierre’s government placing a maximum ceiling
on wages and prices. Meat and bread were rationed.
d) peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at a price
fixed by the government.
e) the use of more expensive white flour was forbidden, all citizens were
required to eat the equality bread.
f) The traditional Sir and Madam were prohibited and Frenc men and women
were addressed as Citizen.
g) Churches were shut down and their buildings converted into barracks or
offices.
h) Finally Robespierre was convicted by a court in July 1794, arrested and on
the next day Guillotined.
VERY SHORT ANSWER/MCQ (1 MARK)
1. Name the social reformer who proposed the theory of division of powers.
2. The bastille was hated by all in France because _______.
3. The Jacobin’s in France were popularly known as ________.
4. Whose rule was known as the ‘reign of terror?
5. Who wrote the book ‘social contract’?
6. Name the book written by ‘Montesquieu’.
7. Name the revolutionary woman who fought for the rights of women during
French revolution.
8. Who established dictatorship in France after the Directory rule?
9. Name the tax levied by the church.
10. A tax that was paid directly to the state.
11.Name two reformers from India who were influenced by the ideals of French
revolution.
12.What is livre?