Question Bank

The French Revolution

Q1. Explain the Social and Economic causes that led to the French Revolution?

(Hint: Social Cause: division of society into three estates, Economic Cause:
Subsistence Crisis, increase in taxes by the king because of huge debts)

Q2. Which period in France is the old regime? Explain the structure of French Society in
the old regime?

Q3. Why were the Clergy and Nobility called as the privileged classes?

Q4. What is subsistence crisis?

Q5. Explain the circumstances that helped the middle class in bringing social and
economic change in the French Society.

OR

Examine the role of the middle class in the French Revolution

Q6. What comprised of the estates general? How did it give inferior treatment to the
third estate?

Q7. Highlight the demands of the third estate in the meeting of the estates general
called by the King.

Q8. Highlight the events that led to the attack on Bastille. What did this attack signify?

Q9. What were the countryside conditions while the entire France was seething in
turmoil?

Q10. ‘On the night of August 4, 1789, The Assembly passed a decree (verdict).’ What
was the verdict? OR Highlight the achievements of National assembly in France.

Q11. Explain the changes in the political structure of France that was brought by the
National Assembly according to the constitution of 1791. OR Describe how the new
political system of constitutional monarchy worked in France.

Q12. What do you understand by: Natural and inalienable rights, active citizens, passive
citizens, elector?
Q13. Who were the Jacobins?

Q14. Describe the events that led to the insurrection of 1792 in France by Jacobins?

Q15. How did the Political structure of France change with the coming of Convention in
1792?

Q16. Which period in the history of France is referred to as the reign of terror and why?

Q17. What changes occurred after the fall of Jacobin government in France?

Q18. What was the condition of French women of Third estate? How did their lives
improve under the revolutionary government?

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

Q19. Olympe De Gouges was an important politically active French woman. Highlight
her role in the French Revolution.

Q20. Which ideals were the most important legacy(inheritance) of the French
Revolution? Were these bounded to France only?