FRENCH REVOLUTION

Q1. What do you understand by the storming of the Bastille?

Ans1. a. On the morning of 14th July 1789, the city of Paris was in a state of alarm. The king
has commanded troops to move into the city. Rumours spread that he would soon order the
army to open fire upon the citizens, some 7000 men and women gathered in front of the town
hall and decided to form a people’s militia. They broke into a number of Government
buildings in search of arms.

b. A group of several hundred people marched towards the eastern part of the city and
stormed the fortress prison, the Bastille, where they hoped to find hoarded ammunition. In the
armed fight that followed, the commander of the Bastille was killed and the prisoners were
released.

c. Bastille was hated by all because it stood for the despotic power of the king. The fortress
was demolished and its stone fragments were sold in the markets as souvenirs.

EFFECTS:
a. The days that followed saw more rioting both in Paris and the country side. Most
people were protesting against the high price of bread.
b. When historians look back upon this time, they saw it as the beginning of a chain of
events that led to the execution of the king.

Q2. Why did Louis XIV raise taxes?

OR
What difficulties did Louis VI face when he ascended the throne?

Ans2. a When Louis VI ascended the throne, he found an empty treasury. Long years of wars
had drained the financial resources of France. Added to this was the cost of maintaining an
extravagant court at the palace of Versailles.

b Under Louis XIV, France helped the 13 American colonies to gain their independence
from the common enemy, Britain. This added more than a billion livres to a debt that had
already risen to more than 2 billion livres.

c. Lenders, who gave the State credit, now began to charge 10 % interest on loans. So
the French Government was obliged to spend an increasing percentage of its budget
on interest payment only.
d. To meet its regular expenses such as cost of maintaining the army, the court or
running the government offices, the State was forced to increase taxes.

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Q. 3. Describe the condition of the peasants in the French society.

OR

How was the system of estates in French society organised?

Ans3. a Peasants made up 90% of the population. However only a small number of them
owned the land they cultivated.

b. The nobles, the Church and other richer members of the 3rd estate owned 60 % of the land.

c. The members of the first two estates, i.e. the clergy and the nobility, enjoyed certain
privileges by birth. They were exempted from paying taxes to the State.

d. The peasants were obliged to render services to the Lord—to work in his house and fields,
to serve in the army or to participate in building roads.

e. The Church too extracted its share of taxes called ‘Tithes’ from the peasants and finally all
members of the 3rd estate had to pay taxes to the State. These included a direct tax called
‘Taille’ and a number of indirect taxes which were levied on articles of everyday
consumption like salt and tobacco.

Q4 i. What was the suffering of the people of the 3rd estate?

OR

ii. What is Subsistence crisis? Explain.

ANS4. i.

a. The population of France rose from 23 million in1715 to 28 million in 1789.This led
to a rapid increase in the demand for food grains.
b. Production of grains could not keep pace with the demand. So, the price of bread rose
rapidly. Most workers were employed as labourers in workshops whose owner fixed
wages. But the wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices. So, the gap between
the poor and the rich were widened.
c. Things became worse when drought or hail reduced the harvest. This led to a
subsistence crisis, something that occurred frequently during the old regime in France.

Ans4. ii. Subsistence crisis is an extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are
endangered.

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Q5. Describe the role of the middle class in the French society in
introducing the social and economic order.

Ans5. a Peasants and workers lacked means and programmes to carry out measures that
could bring about a change in the social and economic order. So, this was left to those groups
within the 3rd estates who had become prosperous and had access to education and new ideas.

b . The middle class earned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade and from the
manufacture of goods such as woollen and silk textiles that were either exported or brought
by the richer members of the society.

d. In addition to traders, the 3rd estates included lawyers or administrative officials. All
of these were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by
birth, rather the social position should depend on merit.

Q6. Discuss the role of the philosophers.

OR
What were the ideas of governments that were floating around in France? Who
prompted this?

Ans6. a . John Locke’s Two Treaties of Government, sought to refute the doctrine of the
divine and absolute right of the monarch.

b. Rousseau carried the idea forward by proposing a form of government based on social
contract between people and their representative.

c. Montesquieu in his ‘In The Spirit of laws’ proposed a division of power within the
government between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.

Q7. How did the ideas of the philosophers spread in France?

Ans a. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee
houses and spread among people through books and newspapers.

b . They were frequently read aloud in groups for the benefit of those who could not read and
write.

C The news that Louis VI planned to impose further taxes to be able to meet the expenses
of the State, generated anger and protest against the system of privileges.

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 Q8. What led to the outbreak of the French Revolution?
 Or
Mention the reasons for the downfall of the monarchy.
Ans 8. a In France, during the Old regime, the king had no power to impose taxes. Rather he
had to call a meeting of the Estates General which would then pass his proposals for new
taxes.

b. On 5th May 1789, Louis XVI called an assembly of the Estates General to pass the
proposal for new taxes. A hall was prepared in Versailles, to host the delegates. The 1st and
the 2nd estates send 300 representatives each, who were seated in rows facing each other. The
600 members of the 3rd estates had to stand back. The 3rd estate was represented by its more
prosperous and educated member, peasants and artisans were denied entry to the assembly.

c. Voting in the past had been conducted according to the principle that each state had one
vote. This time too Louis XVI was determine to continue the same practice. Members of the
3rd estate demanded that voting now to be conducted by the assembly as a whole, where each
member would have one vote. When the king rejected this proposal, the members of the 3rd
estate walked out of the assembly in protest.

d. On 20th June they assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of
Versaille and declared themselves as the “National Assembly”. They swore not to disperse
till they draft a new constitution for France, limiting the powers of the monarch. They were
led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes.

e. While the national assembly was busy in drafting the constitution, the rest of France
seethed with turmoil. Crowds of angry women stormed the shops. At the same time the king
ordered the troops to move to Paris. On 14th July the crowd stormed and destroyed the
Bastille.

Q9. How are the powers of Louis XVI checked by the National Assembly?

ANS 9. a Louis XVI finally accorded recognition to the assembly and accepted the principle
that his power from now on would be checked by the assembly.

b. The assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system obligation and taxes.

c. Members of the clergy were forced to give up their privileges. Tithes were abolished and
lands owned by the church were confiscated.

Q 10. What were the features of the new constitution of 1791?

Ans 10. a. The National assembly completed the draft of the new constitution in 1791.Its
main object was to limit the powers of the monarch.

b. The powers were now separated and assigned to different institutions----the legislature,
the executive and the judiciary.

c. This made France a constitutional monarchy.

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Q11. What were the drawbacks of the constitution of 1791?

Ans 11 a. The constitution vested the power to make laws in the National assembly, which
was indirectly elected.

b. Only men above 25years of age, who paid taxes were given the status of active citizens,
who were entitled to vote.

c. The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens. To qualify as an
elector and then as a member of the assembly, a man had to belong to the highest bracket of
taxpayers.

Q12. What was the ‘declaration of right of man and citizens’?

Ans12. Rights such as right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality of law
were established as ‘natural and in alienated’. These rights belonged to each human being by
birth and wouldn’t be taken away. It was the duty of the State to protect these rights.

Q 13. How did LouisXVI and the neighbouring countries react to France on becoming a
constitutional monarchy in 1791?

Ans13. a. Though Louis XVI signed the constitution, he entered into secret negotiation with
the king of Prussia. Rulers of other neighbouring countries too were worried by the
developments in France. They made plans to send troops to put the events that had been
taking place.

b. Before this could happen, The National assembly voted in April 1792 to declare war
against Prussia and Austria.

c. Thousands of volunteers thronged from the provinces to join the army. They saw this as a
war against kings and aristocrats all over Europe.

Q14. Why were the Jacobin club formed? What role did it play in the emergence of
France?

Ans14. The revolutionary wars brought losses and economic difficulties to the people. The
constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections of society.

b. Political club became an important rallying point for people who wished to discuss
government policies and plan their form of action. The most successful of these clubs was
that of the Jacobins, which got its name from the former convent of st Jacob in Paris.

c. The members of the Jacobin club belonged mainly to the less prosperous sections of
society. They included small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoe makers, pastry cooks and
daily wage workers. Their leader was Maxmilian Robespierre.

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d. In the summer of 1792, the Jacobins planned an insurrection of a large number of
Parisians, who were angered by the short supply and high price of food. They stormed the
palace of Tuileries, killed the kings guard and held the king hostage for several hours. Later
the assembly voted to imprison the royal family. New election was held and all men above 21
years of age got the right to vote regardless of wealth.

e. The newly elected assembly was called ‘Convention’. On Sept 1792 monarchy was
abolished and France was declared a republic. Louis XVI was sentenced to death by the court
on the charges of treason. On Jan 1793 he was executed publicly. The queen Marie
Antoinette met the same fate shortly after.

Q 15. Why was the Jacobin club formed? What role did it play in the emergence of the
French Republic?

Ans 15. The revolutionary wars brought losses and economic difficulties to the people. The
constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections

b. Political clubs became an important rallying point for people who wished to discuss
government policies and plan their own forms of action. The most successful of these clubs
was that Jacobins. It got its name from the former convent of St Jacob in Paris.

c. The members of the Jacobin club belonged mainly to the less prosperous sections of the
society. They included small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers, pastry cooks, watch
makers, as well as servants and daily wage workers. Their leader was Maximillian
Robespierre.

d. In the summer of 1792, the Jacobins planned an uprising of a large number of Parisians,
who were angered with the rising prices of food. They stormed the palace of Tuileries,
massacred the king’s guards and held the king himself as hostage for several hours. Later
assembly voted to imprison the royal family.

e. The newly elected assembly was called the ‘Convention”. It abolished the monarchy and
declared France a Republic. Louis XVI was sentenced to death on the charge of treason, the
queen Marie Antoinette met with the same fate.

Q16. The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the “Reign of Terror”. Explain.

ANS.16. a Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.

b All those whom he saw as being enemies of the republic, like ex-nobles. Ex- clergy,
members of other political parties, even members of his own party who did not agree with his
method were arrested and tried by a tribunal. If found guilty, they were guillotined.

c. Churches were shut down and their buildings converted into barracks and offices.

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Q17. Mention the laws issued by Robespierre’s government.

ANS 17. a. Robespierre’s government issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and
prices.

b. Meat and bread were rationed.

c. Peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at prices fixed by the
government.

d. The use of more expensive white flour was forbidden, all citizens were required to
eat a loaf made of whole wheat.
e. Instead of the traditional Monsieur and Madam, all French men and women were
henceforth will be called citoyen and citoyenne.

Q18. How did Napoleon come to power?

OR
What was the “Directory”? Mention its consequences.
ANS 18. a. The fall of the Jacobin government allowed the wealthier middle classes to
seize power. A new constitution was introduced which denied voting rights to non-
propertied sections of the society.

b It provided for elected legislative councils. These then appointed a “Directory”, an

executive body of five members.

c The Directors often clashed with the legislative councils, who then sought to dismiss
them.

e. The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of a military
dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Q19. What was the condition of women in France?

ANS 19. A. Women worked as seamstresses, sold flowers, fruits and vegetables at the
market or were employed as domestic servants in the houses of prosperous people.
b. Most women did not have access to education and job training.
c. Only daughters of nobles or wealthier members of the third estate could study at a
convent, after which their families arranged marriages for them.
d. Working women had also to care for their families, that is, to cook, fetch water,
looking after children etc. Their wages were lower than those of men.

Q20. What role did women play during revolution?

ANS20. a. Women started their own political club and newspapers. About sixty women’s
club came up in different French cities. The society of “REVOLUTIONARY AND
REPUBLICAN WOMEN” was the most famous one.

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b. One of the main demand was that women should enjoy the same political rights as men.
Women got disappointed when the constitution of 1791 reduced them to passive citizens.

c. They demanded the right to vote, to be elected to the assembly and to hold political office.
Only then they felt, their interest would be represented in the new government.

Q 21. What law did the revolutionary government pass for the benefit of women?

ANS 21. a. 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.

b. Their fathers could no longer force them into marriage against their will. Marriage was
made into a contract entered into freely registered under civil law.

c. Divorce was made legal, and could be applied for by both women and men. Women could
now train for jobs, could become artists or run small business.

Q22.How did the revolutionary governments translate ideas of liberty and equality into
everyday practice?

ANS 22. a. One important law that came into effect soon after the storming of the Bastille in
the summer of 1789 was the abolition of censorship.

b. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and
expression to be a natural right.

c. Newspaper, pamphlets, books and printed pictures flooded the tours of France from where
they travelled rapidly into the countryside.

d. Plays, songs and festive processions attracted large numbers of people.

Q23. Briefly describe the rise of Napoleon.

ANS23. a. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself emperor of France.

b. He set out to conquer neighbouring European countries, dispossessing dynasties and

creating kingdoms where he placed members of his family. Napoleon saw his role as a
modernise of Europe.

c. He introduced many laws such as the protection of private property and a uniform system
of weights and measures provided by the decimal system.

Q24. What was the legacy of the French Revolution?

ANS24. a. The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the
French Revolution.

b. Feudal system and slavery were abolished.

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c. Ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity were set up.

d. Abolition of hereditary monarchy and establishment of a Republic in France.