Q.

The Role of Middle Class during French revolution

The French Revolution was in major parts due to the rise of another social stratum, the
middle class. The 18th century saw the rise of educated men who had the means to bring
about large-scale changes and get their voices heard. The middle class consisted of
overseas tradesmen, manufacturers, and large-scale business owners. They actively
worked on spreading freedom philosophy and ideas against oppression.

Q. Prominent figures during French revolution on middle class

Charles Montesquieu – A nobleman by birth, he was outspoken against oppressive

policies. He was a lawyer and fought for the division of power inside the government,
against the absolute power of the government.

Jean Jacques Rousseau – He is also known as the architect of the French Revolution. He
proposed a social contract between people and their representatives, and if the
government is found in violation of this contract, they had the right to take action against
them.

John Locke – A political thinker that refuted the divine doctrine and worked to empower the
people.

Q. What was the subsistence crisis ? Why did it occur in France during the old regime ?

Or How did France saw the subsistence crises during the old regime?

Ans. Subsistence crisis was an extreme situation where the basic means oflivelihood were
endangered.

1. The population of France rose from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.This ledto a
rapid increase in the demand for food grains.

2. The production of food grains could not keep pace with the demand. So the price
ofbread which was the staple diet of the majority rose rapidly.

3. Most of the workers were employed as labourers in workshops and received fixedtheir
wages which which did not keep pace with the rise in prices. So the gap betweenthe Rich
and the poor widened. Things became worse whenever drought or hailreduced the harvest.
This led to the subsistence crisis.It occurred in France frequently during the old Reigime.

Q.2.What was the system of voting in the Estates General? What change did the Third
Estate want in this system?

Ans. Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted1. According to the
principle that each estate had one vote.2. Members of the Third Estate demanded that
voting must now be conducted by the assembly as a whole, where each member would
have one vote.

3. This was according to the democratic principles put forward by philosophers

likeRousseau in his book,

.Q.3. Describe the incidents that led to the storming of the Bastille . Ans.1- National
Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a constitution; the rest of France was seething
with turmoil.

2- A severe winter had meant a bad harvest, the price of bread rose. Often bakersexploited
the situation and hoarded supplies.

3- After spending hours in long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormedinto
the shops.

4- At the same time, the king ordered troops to move into Paris. On 14 July, theagitated
crowd stormed and destroyed Bastille.

Q.4. Describe how the new political system of constitutional monarchy workedin France .

AnsThe constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the National
Assembly,which was indirectly elected. That is,

1. Citizens voted for a group of electors, who in turn chose the Assembly. Not allcitizens,
however, had the right to vote.

2. Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer’s
wage were given the status of active citizens, that is, they were entitled tovote.

3. The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens.

4. To qualify as an elector and then as a member of the Assembly, a man had tobelong to
the highest bracket of taxpayers.

Q.5.What was ‘natural and inalienable rights’ ?

Ans. 1-. The constitution began with a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens

2- Rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before
law were established as ‘natural and inalienable rights’, i.e., they belonged to each human
being by birth and could not be taken away3-It was the duty of the state to protect each
citizen’s natural right.

5 MARKS
Q. Explain the importance of the following events on the course of the French Revolution: a)
Storming of the Bastille

(b) The passing of the Civil Constitution of the clergy

Ans. (a) On July 14, 1789, a mob of Paris stormed the fortress – the prison of Bastille –
considered a symbol of oppression and despotism. The Swiss guards were killedand
prisoners set free. The mob stole arms and ammunition. To this day, Francecelebrates
‘Bastille Day’ on 14thJuly every year.

(b) In 1790, the Civil Constitution nationalised the church. The clergy or group ofpersons
who enjoyed special powers in the church were also forced to relinquishpower. Tithes were
abolished and lands owned by the church were confiscated.

Q.2. Describe the Reign of Terror and role played by Robespierre in it . Ans. The period from
1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Reign of Terror.

1. Maximilian Robespierre, leader of the Jacobins, followed the policy of severecontrol and
punishment.

2. All those he saw as enemies of the Republic — ex-nobles, clergy, political opponents —
were arrested, tried and guillotined if found guilty.

3. He issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and prices.4. Meat and bread were
rationed.5. Use of expensive white flour was forbidden. Robespierre followed his policies
so relentlessly that even his supporters began to demand moderation. Finally, he was
convicted, arrested and guillotined in July 1794.

Q.What did the following symbols convey in the Declaration of Rights?(i) The broken chain
(ii) The bundle of rods or fasces (iii)Scepter (iv)Snake biting its tail to form a ring (v) Red
Phrygian cap (vi)The law tablet Ans. (i)the broken chains: Chains were used to fetter slaves.
A broken chain stands for the act of becoming free.

(ii)The bundle of rods or fasces: One rod can be easily broken, but not an entirebundle.
Strength lies in unity.

(iii)Sceptre: Symbol of royal power.

(iv)Snake biting its tail to form a ring: Symbol of eternity. A ring has neitherbeginning nor
end.

(v)Red Phrygian cap: Cap worn by a slave upon becoming free.

(vi)The law tablet :The law is the same for all, and all are equal before it.
Q.4.write short note on Jacobins ? Ans.1- They got their name from the former convent of
St. Jacob in Paris.

2-They belonged to the less prosperous sections of the society.

3-They included small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers, pastry cooks,watch-

makers, printers, as well as servants and daily wage earners.

4-Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.

5-A large group among the Jacobin decided to wear long striped trousers similar tothose
worn by dock workers.

6-This was to set themselves apart from the fashionable sections of society especially the
nobles who wore knee breeches.

Q.5. Discuss the participation of women in political clubs, their activities and demands .

Ans. From the very beginning, women were active participants in the events which brought
about so many important changes in French society.

1. They hoped that their involvement would pressurise the revolutionary government
tointroduce measures to improve their lives.

2. Most women of the third estate had to work for a living. They worked asseamstresses or
laundresses, sold flowers, fruits and vegetables at the market, orwere employed as
domestic servants in the houses of prosperous people.

3. Most women did not have access to education or job training. Their wages were lower
than those of men.

4. One of their main demands was that women should be given the same politicalrights as
men.

5. Women were disappointed that the constitution of 1791 reduced them to passive
citizens.

Very Short answer

Q. 1. Which Dynasty ruled over French during eighteenth century?Ans. The Bourbon
dynasty was ruling over French in eighteenth century.

Q. 2. Which ruler came to power in France in 1774?

Ans. Louis XVI of Bourbon family, ascended the throne of France in 1774.

Q. 3. How did American war of Independence add more debt to France?

Ans. The French army supported thirteen colonies of America in their war of independence
against Great Britain. It added more than one billion livres( unit of currency in France) that
had risen to more than two billon livres with interest.

Q. 4. What was ‘tithe’?

Ans. It was a tax levied by the church, comprising at least one tenth of the agricultural
produceby the farmers.

Q. 5. What was taille?

Ans. It was also a kind of tax which was paid by the people of third estate directly to the
state.

Q. 6. Who was Rousseau?

Ans. Rousseau was a French Philosopher, who carried the idea of Locke forward, proposing
a form of government based on a social contract between people and their representatives.

Q. 7. When was French National Assembly recognized?

Ans. Louis XVI finally accepted the national Assembly in July 1789 and on 4 Aug
1789,theassembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes.

Q. 8. Who was the leader of Jacobin club?

Ans. Maximilian Robespierre was the leader of Jacobin club.

Q. 9. When did Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of France?

Ans. In 1804 , Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself the Emperor of France.

Q. 10. What was the most important legacy of the French Revolution ?. The idea of liberty
and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution.

1. What role did women play during the revolutionary years?

Ans. From the very beginning women were active participant in the events which brought
about so many important changes in French society. In order to discuss and voice their
interests women started their own political clubs and newspapers. About sixty women’s
club came up in different French Cities. The Society of revolutionary and Republican
women was the most famous clubs.

2. How was the system of Estates in French society organized?

Ans. First Estate and Second Estate-These estates consisted of the clergy and nobility.
About 60% of the land was owned by nobles, the church and other members of the third
estate. The members of the first two estates that are the clergy and nobility enjoyed certain
privileges by birth. The nobles further enjoyed feudal privileges. The third estate comprised
big businessman, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants and artisans, Small
peasants, landless laborers and servants etc. Peasants were 90% population with very low
few owners of land. Only the members of third estate paid taxes.

3. What types of taxes were paid by the third estate in France?

Ans. Nobles enjoyed feudal privileges. Peasants were obliged to work in their houses and
fields, to serve in the army and build roads. Peasants paid a tax called tithes to the church.
The third estate paid a direct tax called taille. In direct tax on salt and tobacco were also
levied.

5. The eighteenth century France witnessed the emergence of the middle class’. Who were
they and what were their ideas?

Ans. The eighteenth century witnessed the emergence of social groups, termed as the
middle class. The yearned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade and
manufacture of goods such as woolen silk textiles that were exported or bought by the
richer members of society. In addition to merchants and manufacturers the third estate
included professionals such as lawyers or administrative officials.

6. Describe any three causes for the fall of the Jacobin government in France.

Ans. The Jacobin government followed the policy of severe control and punishment. All
those who wereregarded as the enemy of the republic were arrested and tried by tribunal. If
found guilty they were guillotined.Even Luis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on
charge of treason. Finally, opposition to such severe control began to grow and was
responsible for the fall of the Jacobin government.

7. What do you understand by the term “Reign of Terror’?

Ans. The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as reign of terror. Robespierre followed the
policy of severe control and punishment. All those who were regarded as the enemy of the
republic were arrested and tried by tribunal. If found guilty the y were guillotined.

8.Highlight the provisions of the constitution which was introduced after the fall of Jacobin
club.

Ans. The fall of the Jacobin Government allowed the wealthier middle classed to seize
power. A New constituent was introduced which denied the vote to non-propertied
sections of society. It provided for two elected legislative councils. These then appointed a
Directory, and executive made up of five members. This was mean as a safeguard against
the concentration of power in a one man executive as under the Jacobins.

9. What was the significance of the storming of the Bastille?

Ans. The first of the French Revolution was fired on 14 July 1789, in the city of Paris. Around
7000 men and women who formed the people’s militia gathered in front of the town hall
and broke into government buildings in search of arms. Finally t hey stormed the Bastille,
the fortress prison to free political prisoners. The Bastille was hated by all as it stood for the
despotic power of King.

10. What laws did the revolutionary government introduce to improve the lives of women?

Ans.In the early years the revolutionary government did introduce laws that helped improve
the lives of women.Together with the creation of state schools, schooling was made
compulsory for all girls. Their fathers could nolonger force them into marriageagainst their
will. Marriage was made into a contract entered into freely andregistered under civil law.
Divorce was made legal, and could be applied for by both women and men.

11. Why were women disappointed by the constitution of 1791 in France?

Ans. Women were disappointed that the constitution of 1791 reduced the passive citizens.
They don’t have the right to vote. They demanded the right to vote, to be elected to the
assembly and to hold political office. Only then they felt would their interests be
represented in the new government.

12.What do you know about the Estates General?

Ans. The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates sent their
representatives. In France of the Old Regime, the monarch did not have the power to
impose taxes; rather he had to call a meeting of the Estate General to pass the proposals
for new taxes. However it was the monarch alone who could decide when to call a meeting
of this body. 13. Who was Mirabeau?

Ans. Mirabeau was born in a noble family but was convinced of the need to do away with
feudal privileges. He brought out a journal and delivered powerful speeches to the croweds
assembled at Versailles. The representatives of the thirdestate assembled on20 June in the
hall of the indoor tennis court in the ground of Versailles. They declared themselves
National Assembly. They were led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes.

14.Who was Abbe Sieyes?

Ans. Abbe Sieyes was prominent member of National Assembly. Originally, he was a priest.
He wrote an influential pamphlet called, what is Third Estate. The representatives of the
third estate assembled on 20 June in the hall of the indoor tennis court in the ground of
Versailles. They declared themselves National Assembly. They were led by Mirabeau and
Abbe Sieyes

15. Highlight the turmoil of countryside of the France when the National Assembly was
busy at the Versailles in drafting a new constitution.

Ans. In the countryside rumors spread from village to village that the lords of the manor
had hired bands of brigades who were on their way to destroy the ripe crops. Caught in a
frenzy of fear, peasants in several districts seized hoes and pitchforks and attacked
chateaux. They looted hoarded grains and burnt down documents containing records of
manorial dues.

16. Write a note on new constitution of France after monarch ?

Ans-(i) .The national assembly completed the draft of theconstitution in 1791.

(ii). Its main object was to limit the powers of monarchs.

(iii) . These powers of the Legislature, executive and Judiciary This made France
constitutional monarchy.

17. Define the political system in Francebefore year 1791 ?

Ans-(i) . Political systemwas indirectly elected.

(ii) . Citizen voted for agroup of electors.

(iii) . Notall citizen had right to vote.

(iv) . Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes were given the status toactive citizen.

(v) . the remaining men and all women were classed as passivecitizen.

18. What were the significance of political symbol ?

Ans-● The broken chain significance freedom.

● The eye within a triangle radiating light shows knowledge.

● Scepter symbol of royal power.

● Snake biting eternity.

● Red Phrygian cap worm by a solve upon becoming free.

● Blue white red the national colours of France

.● Winged woman personification of the laws.

● Law tablet all and all are equal before it.

25. What was revolutionary wars and it’s effect ?

Ans-(i) . Although Louis XVI had signed the constitution.

(ii) . He entered into secret negotiations with the king of Persia. (iii) . They plans to send
troops to put down the events.

(vi) . Before this could happen, the national assembly declares war against Persia and
Austria. (Effects)looses And economical difficulties to the people. The men were away
fighting at the front. Women were left to the cope with the task of earning. A living and
looking after their families.

26. What Led to the formation of a Jacobin club? Who was its member ? what they were
achievements ?

(i) . The member of Jacobin club belong mainly to the less prosperous section of society.

(ii) . They included small shop keepers partition such as shoe maker, pastry Cooks watch-
maker printers as well as servant and daily wage workers.

(iii) . Many were not satisfied with them.

(iv) . This lead to the formation of jacobin club.

(v) . Election were held from man 21 years and above have got the right to vote.

Q. What do you know about ‘Estate General’?

Ans. I) The Estate General was a political body to which the three estates sent their
representatives.

II. In France of the old regime, the monarch did not have the power to impose taxes, rather
he had to call a meeting of the Estate General to pass the proposals for new taxes.

III. However, it was the monarch alone who could decide when to call a meeting of this
body.

Q. What was the role of the philosopher in the French Revolution?

Ans.Ideas of having a society based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities for all
were put forward by the French philosophers .
I) John Locke :Locke wrote, ' Two Treatises of Government’. In this book, he criticised the
divine and the absolute rights of the rulers.

II) John Jacques Rousseau: Rousseau had written his viewpoint in his book, ‘The Social
Contract -between people and their representatives.

III)Montesquieu :His Ideas were proposed in his book, ‘The spirit of law’ . According to him
there should be a division of power between the three organs – the legislature, the
executive and the judiciary. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed by common
people in salons and coffee houses and inspired them to right for their rights.

Q. What was the immediate cause of the French Revolution?

Ans. I) A severe winter had meant a bad harvest, the price of bread rose, often bakers
exploited the situation and hoarded supplies.

II) After spending long hours in long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormed
into the shops.

III) At the same time, the king ordered troops to move into Paris and On 14 th July, the
agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille. This was the immediate cause of
French revolution.

Q. When did France become a Republic?

Ans. I) A republic is a form of government where people elect the government including the
headof the government. There is no hereditary monarch.

II) On 21st September 1792, a newly elected assembly called the ‘ Convention’ – abolished
the monarchy and declared France a Republic.

Q. Which laws were made to improve the status of women in the French society?

Ans. In the beginning, the revolutionary government introduced laws to improve the lives of
women.

i) Schooling was made compulsory for all girls.

ii) Their fathers could no longer force them to marriage against their will.
iii) Divorce was made legal and could be applied by both men and women.
iv) Women could now be trained for jobs, could become ar sts or run small
businesses.
6. What was Guillotine? How was it used?
Ans. I) Robespierre introduced Reign of Terror when he followed a policy of
severe control and punishment in France.
II) Guillotine was a device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a
person is beheaded. It was named after Dr. Guillotine, who invented it.
III) Robespierre was convicted by a Court in July 1794, arrested and on the
next day sent to the Guillotine and killed in the same manner he punished
guilty people.
Q. How was the taxation policy responsible for the French Revolution?
Ans. I) The French society divided into three estates- First, Second and Third
estates respectively.
II) First and second estates which formed 10 per cent of the total population
were clergy and nobles and were exempted from taxes and enjoyed all
privileges.
III) Rest 90 Percent population of the third estate paid all kinds of direct or
indirect taxes. Member of third estate believe that no group in society should
be privileged by birth.
Q. What was a ‘ Directory’? Why was it removed from France?
Ans. I) After the fall of Jacobin, a new Constitution was formed which denied
the right to vote to non-propertied men.
II) The Constitution provided two elected legislative councils, who appointed
a Directory, an executive made up of 5 members
III) However, the directors often clashed with legislative Councils and were
finally dismissed.
With this political instability emerged in France which gave rise to a military
dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte.
Q. 9. How did Peasants protest against the feudal Lords or nobles of France?
Ans. I) There were rumors that the landlords of the manor had hired some
people to destroy the ripened crops.
II) Being afraid of the situation, peasants in several districts seized hoes and
Pitchfork and attacked chateaux ( castles belonging to the nobleman).
III) They looted hoarded grain in the market. They had also burnt the
documents containing records of the manorial dues. With the result, a large
number of nobles ed from their homes and migrated to the neighboring
countries.
Q. 10. Mention the contribution of Mirabeau in the formation of National
Assembly?
Ans. I) Mirabeau was born in a noble family but was convinced to do away
with feudal privileges.
II) On 20 June, the third estate assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court
in the ground of Versailles
.III) Mirabeau brought out a journal and delivered powerful speeches to the
crowds assembled at Versailles.

Q. How did the fall of Bastille prison become the immediate cause of French
Revolution?
Ans. i) On the morning of 14th July 1789,the city of Paris was in a state of
alarm. The king ordered his troops to move into the city.
ii) Rumors spread that he would soon order the army to open threw upon the
citizens.
iii) Some 7,000 men and women gathered in front of the town hall and
decided to form a people’s militia.
iv) A group of several hundred people marched towards the eastern part of
the city and stormed the fortress-prison, the Bastille.
v) In the armed right, the commander of Bastille was killed and prisoners
released. Since the Bastille stood for the despotic power of the king. It led
people towards the success of French Revolution.

Q. What kinds of freedoms were granted to the citizens of France after

French Revolution?

Ans. I) One important law that came into effect soon after the storming of
the Bastille in the summer of 1789 was the abolition of censorship
II) In the old regime all written material and cultural activities, books,
newspapers, play could be published or performed only after they had been
approved by the censors of the king. Now the declaration of the rights of Man
and citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression, to be a natural
right.
III) Newspaper, Pamphlet, books and Printed pictures flooded the towns of
France from where they Travelled rapidly into the countryside. They all
described the events and changes taking place in France
IV) Freedom of Press also meant the opposing views to events could be
expressed. Each sides ought to convince the others of its position through
the medium of print
.V) In this way they identified with ideas such as liberty or justice. Political
philosophers wrote these texts in length, which only a handful of educated
people could read.
Q. 4. Who formed the Jacobin Club? What measures had he taken to remove
discrimination in the French society and form a French Republic?
Ans. The Jacobin club was formed by Maximilian Robespierre. The measures
take or adopted were :I) Formation of Political clubs: Large sections of the
society were convinced that the revolution had to be carried further, as the
Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections of the
society.
II) Members of the Jacobin club : It's members were from less prosperous
seconds of society. They included small shopkeepers, artisans like
shoemaker, pastry cooks, watch- makers and daily wage earners. A large
number members of the Jacobin club decided to wear long stripped trousers,
to look apart. They also wore red caps to symbolize freedom) All citizens got
the right to vote : On the morning of 10 August, 1792 , Jacobin stormed the
palace of Tuileries, massacred the King’s guards and held the king hostage
for several hours. Later, they voted to imprison the Royal Family. Then the
assembly declared that elections would beheld to form a government. All
men above 21 years of age regardless of wealth got the right to vote.
IV) Declaration of France as a Republic : The newly elected assembly was
called’ Convention’. On21st September 1792 , it abolished the monarchy and
declared France as a Republic. Now people elected their Government. There
was no hereditary monarchy.
V) End of Monarchy: Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a Court on the
charges of betraying his own country. On 21 January, 1793 he was executed
publicly at the place de la Concord. The queen, Marie Antoinette also met
with the same fate.

Q. 5. What was the role of middle classes in ending the privileges?

I) In past, peasants and workers had participated in the revolts against
increasing taxes and food scarcity. But they could not change the social and
economic order
II) The 18th century witnessed the emergence of social groups termed as
middle class who earned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade
and from manufacturing goods and exporting them.
III) In addition to merchants and manufacturers, the third estate included
professions such as that of lawyers or administrative officials.
IV) All of these were educated and believed that no group in Society should
be privileged by birth. Rather, a person’s social position must depend on his
merit.
Q. How the National Assembly formed by the people of the third estate?
Ans) I) The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates
send their representatives.
II) Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to
the principle that each estates had one vote.
III) But members of the third estate demanded that voting now be conducted
by the assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.
IV) But the king rejected this proposal.
V) The representatives of the third estate viewed themselves as spokesmen
for the whole French nation. They declared themselves a National Assembly
and drained a Constitution for France.
Q) How did France become a Constiutional monarchy? Ans) I) The National
Assembly completed the drafting of the Constitution in 1791.
II) These powers instead of being concentrated in the hands of one person
were now Separated and assigned to different institutions- the legislature,
executive and judiciary.
) It was the duty of the state to protect each citizen’s natural rights
Q) Who were Jacobins? Write about them.
Ans: The most successful political club prior to French revolution was the
Jacobin club which got its name from the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris.
Political club became an important rallying point for people who wished to
discuss Government policies and plan their own forms of action. The
members of the Jacobin club belonged mainly to the less prosperous section
Of the society. They included small shopkeepers, servants etc. Their leader
was Maximilian Robespierre.