Social science summer assignment

History/ political science

 The declaration was regarded as a revolutionary document because:

i. It abolished the privileges and power given to the French feudal class
ii. It provided equitable distribution of the taxation, and of right to private property,
and right to life.
iii. It was the duty of the state to protect each citizen natural rights.
iv. It provided for equality before law. Freedom of speech, opinion and press was
provided
v. It was felt, if the ideas contained on the document were applied to Europe, the old
order of Europe would get destroys. To get the old regime back

 Women were active participants from the beginning which brought important changes in the
country France. Women from the third estate had to work for a living and they didn’t have
access to education or job training.
I. The most notable demand of women during the French revolution was the ‘right to vote’
and equal wages.
II. In order to discuss and raise voice for their demands, they started many ‘political clubs’
and ‘newspapers’, among which ‘the society of revolutionary’ and ‘Republican women
were famous’.
III. One of the most well-known French Revolutionary women was Olympe de Gouges.

 Jacobians was the most popular and successful political club in France. It got its name from the
former convent St. Jacob in Paris. They were the less prosperous sections of the society were
members of the Jacobian club. They included small shopkeepers, artisans (such as shoemakers,
pastry cooks, watch makers, printers) as well as servants and daily wage workers.
Jacobians contribution to the French revolution are: -
i. Jacobian clubs became an important rallying point for people who wished to discuss
government policies and plans and their own forms of action.
ii. In 1972, the Jacobians planned an insurrection (revolt) of large numbers of Persians who
were angered by short supplies and high food prices.
iii. On the morning of august 10, 1972, they stormed the palace of the Tuileries, massacred
the king’s guard’s greed’s and held the king as hostage for several hours.
iv. Later the assembly voted to imprison the family.
v. Elections were held. From then all men of 21 years, regardless of wealth, were given the
right to vote.
vi. The newly elected assembly was called the convention.
vii. On 21 September 1972, it abolished the monarch; and declared France a republic.
viii. They ruled France under their leader Maximilian Robespierre from 1793 to 1794.
Robespierre’s reign was known as ‘reign of terror’.
 Europe in the 18th century followed the old pattern of autocratic monarchy rulers, feudal rights
and privileges
 Other countries of Europe watch the developments in France with great interest and
worry because this threatened their position.
 The manifesto of the declaration of the rights of man and citizen aimed at the very
foundation of the ‘old order’ of society. This development disrupted other states.
 Austria, Russia and Spain made plans to send troops to put down the event which they
call anarchy; and to restore French monarchy.
 Before this could happen, the National Assembly in 1792 voted for war against Prussia
and Austria. Gradually, all of Europe was raised against France.
  While the monarchs tried to preserve the old order, radical elements and Democrats
everywhere in Europe, welcome the revolution in the war of people against kings,
aristocracies and privileges.

5.

i. France in the 18th century had many revolutionary thinkers. Among them where
Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu and John Locke. Their revolutionary ideas encourage
people to fight for their rights.
ii. John Locke refused to accept the absolute right to monarchs.
iii. Montis ques believed all power should not be concentrated in one person’s hand. He
proposed a division of power within the government between the legislature, the
executive and the judiciary.
iv. Rousseau proposed a form of government based on social contract between people and
representatives.
v. The ideas were discussed intensely in salons and coffee houses spread among the
people through books and newspapers.
vi. The philosophers played a virtual role in bringing about the revolution.

6. Some courses which led to the subsistence crisis in France during the old regime: -

i. The population of France rose from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. So, demand for food
grains rapidly increased.
ii. Production could not be increased
iii. The price of bread, a staple diet for the majority, increased.
iv. Most workers were employed as labourers in workshops on fixed wages. Wages did not increase.
The gap between the rich and the poor widened.
v. Drought to hail were also responsible for the crisis. Due to this quantity of harvest reduced.

7. A- Paris

B-BORDEAUX

C- LA MARSEILLAISE

D-NANTES

8. merits of democracy are: -

i. Democratic government is better form of government because it is more accountable form of

government
ii. Democracy improves the quality of decision making
iii. Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens. Poor and least educated have the same status as the
rich and educated.

Demerits of democracy are: -

 i. Leaders keep on changing, this leads to instability.
ii. Democracy is all about political competition and power play; There is no scope for morality.
iii. Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition. A candidate hast to spend
a lot of money to contest the election.

9.

i. Democracy is better than any other form of government in responding to the needs of the
people.
ii. A non-democratic government can respond to the people’s needs. But it all depends on the
wishes of the rulers.
iii. A democracy requires that the, rulers have to attend to the need of the people.

10.

i. Democracy is the rule of the people.

ii. It is based on the principles of political equality. It recognises that the poorest and the least
educated have the same status as the rich and educated.
iii. People are not subjects of a ruler; they are ruler themselves.
iv. Even when rulers make mistakes, they are responsible for their conduct.
v. Anyone can contest elections and aspire to become CM or the PM.

11.

i. General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999. He overthrew a

democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘chief executive of the country’
ii. Later he changed his designation to president and in 2002 held a referendum in the country
that granted him a five-year extension.
iii. Under a ‘legal framework order’ that amended the constitution of Pakistan; the president
can the national and provisional assemblies.
iv. The work of the civilian cabinet was supervised by a national security which was dominated
by military supervisors.
v. The final power rested with the military officers and general Musharaff himself.

12.