CBSE Affiliation No : 1130470

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Chapter 1: French Revolution

(PLEASE NOTE QUESTION NUMBER 2, 3, 4,5,9 12 To Be Written Again in Notepad )

I. Answer the following questions:

1.Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of the Revolutionary protest in France
Ans.. The incidents leading to the outbreak of the revolution were:
Meeting of the Estate General: On 5th May 1789, Louis XVI called for a meeting to propose new
taxes. Representatives of all three states reached there, but members of the third state had to stand on
the back as they were not offered any seat. Peasants, artisans and women were denied entry to the
assembly.
Universal Adult Franchise: members of the third Estate demanded the power for each member to
vote. When the king rejected the demand, members of the third state walked out to the assembly to
protest. Meeting of the newly formed National Assembly: Since the percentage of the Third Estate
was more, they considered themselves as spokesman for the whole French nation. They assembled in
an indoor tennis court of Versailles and declared themselves as the National Assembly. They believed
in removing the feudal privileges of the nobles and clergy.
Revolt by the peasants: The countryside Rumors spread from village to village that their ripe crops
would be destroyed by higher bands of lords of manors. Based on several districts seized goals and
attacked the residences of their manors. They looted, hoarded grain and burnt down documents
containing records of manorial dues.
Fall of Bastille prison: During this political turmoil the French had experienced severe winter leading
to bad harvest. It increased the price of bread which was quoted in the market. Angry women attacked
the shops. At the same time the King ordered troops to move into Paris. On 14th July 1789, The
agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille prison.
 2.Which groups of the French society benefitted from the revolution? Which groups were
forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with
outcome of the Revolution?
Ans. The French Revolution had an impact on all the sections of the society.
(i) The educated and the rich middle class benefitted from the French Revolution. It included
merchants, manufacturers and professionals such as the lawyers and administrative officials.

(ii) The feudal lord’s nobility and clergy were forced to relinquish power.

(iii) The peasants and workers were disappointed with the outcome of the Revolution.

3.Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during the 19th and
20th century
Ans. The French Revolution was one of the most significant events in the world history. The
French Revolution preached the concept of equal rights for all the citizens and brought an end to
feudalism in France.
(i) It gave the world the three main ideas of Liberty equality and fraternity.
(ii) The French Revolution introduce the idea of Republic in Europe and subsequently in the
other parts of the world.
(iii) It inspired Nationalist Movement in India and other Afro Asian countries. It gave the term
Nation its modern meaning and inspired the European countries to establish Nation States.

4.How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?

Ans. The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte was also an indirect result of the French Revolution.
(i) After the fall of the Jacobin Government a new constitution was introduced which
consisted of two elected Legislative Councils and a Directory
(ii) However, the Directors of five clashed with the Legislative Councils who then sought to
dismiss them.
(iii) This clash was responsible for political instability in France. Napoleon took advantage of
the situation and became a dictator with the help of the Army.

5.What was the role of the Jacobins in the French revolution?

Ans.(i) Jacobins were the political Club of the people. This became an important rallying point for
the people, who wished to discuss government policies and plans and their own form of action.
(ii) The members of the Jacobin Clubs belonged mainly to the less prosperous sections of the
society. They included small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers, pastry cooks,
watchmakers, printers as well as daily wage workers.
(iii) Their leaders was Maximilian Robespierre. A large group among the Jacobins decided to start
wearing long striped trousers similar to those worn by dock workers. This was to set them apart
from the fashionable sections of the society, especially nobles who wore knee breeches.
(iv) These Jacobins came to be known as the sans-culottes literally meaning those without knee
breeches. Sans-culottes men wore in addition the red cap that symbolized Liberty.
(v) In the summer of 1792 the Jacobins planned and insurrections of a large number of Parisians.
On the morning August 10 they stormed the Palace of the Tulieries, massacred theking's guard
and held the king himself Hostage for several hours.

6.Describe the storming of Bastille?

Ans.(i) On the morning of 14 July 1789 the city of Paris was in a state of turmoil. Some
7000 men and women gathered in front of the town hall and decided to form people's militia. They
broke into a number of government buildings in search of arms. A group of several hundred people
marched towards the eastern part of the city and stormed the Fortress prison, the Bastille, where they
hope to find hoarded ammunition.
(ii) In the armed fight that followed, the commander of the Bastille was killed and the
Prisoners release though there were only seven of them.
(iii) Yet the Bastille was hated by all, because it stood for the despotic power of the king .
(iv) The Fortress was demolished and its stone fragments were sold in the markets to all those
who wished to keep a Souvenir of its destruction.

7.What were the economic causes of the French Revolution?

Ans.(i) Louis XVI of the bourbon dynasty ascended the throne in 1774. Upon his accession Louis
XVI found an empty treasury. Long years of war had drained the financial resource of French.
(ii) Added to this was the cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace of
Versailles.
 (iii) Under Louis XVI, French help the 13 American colonies to gain their Independence fromthe
common enemy, Britain. The war added more than a billion livres to the already existing debt.
(iv) Lenders who gave the State Credit now began to charge 10% interest on loan.
(v) To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining the army, the court running
government offices or universities, the state was forced to force to increase the taxes.

8.Explain the subsistence crisis.

Ans.(i) The French population rose from about 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. This led to
a rapid increase in demand for food grains.
(ii) Production of grains could not keep pace with the demand. So the price of bread, which was a
staple diet of the majority rose rapidly.
(iii) Most workers were employed as laborers in workshops whose owners fixed their wages.But
wages did not keep pace with the rise in price.
(iv) So the gap, between the rich and the poor widened.
(v) Things became worse whenever drought or hail reduce the harvest. This led to a subsistence
crisis, an extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered.

9.What were the main features of the Constitution of 1791 drafted by the national
assembly?
Ans. The national assembly completed the draft of the Constitution in 1791. Its main features were:
(i) The constitution made France a constitutional monarchy. The powers instead of being
concentrated in the hands of one person, were separated and assigned to different Institutions-the
legislature, executive and Judiciary.
(ii) The constitution of 1791 vested the powers to make laws in the national assembly, which
was indirectly elected. That is, citizen voted for a group of electors, who in turn choose the
Assembly.
(iii) However not all citizens had the right to vote. Only men above twenty-five years of age who
paid taxes equal to at least three days of a laborer’s wage were given the status of active citizen that is,
they were entitled to vote. The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens.
(iv)The National Assembly had the powers to make the law. It was voted by about 50,000
electors and constituted of 745 members. It would keep control on both the kings and the
 ministers.
(v) The constitution began with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Rights such as
right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law were established as a
natural and inalienable rights.

10.How was the slave trade started? When and how was it abolished?
Ans.(i) There was a shortage of labour in the plantation as the Europeans were reluctant to go and
work in distance and unfamiliar colonies in the Caribbean, Martinique and San Domingo.
(ii) Europeans solved this problem by a triangular slave trade between Europe, America and
Africa which began in the 17th century.
(iii) French merchants sailed from Bordeaux to Nantes the ports of to the African coast where they
brought slaves from local chieftains.
(iv) Branded and shackled, the slaves were packed tightly into ships for 3 months long voyage
across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. There they were sold to the plantation owners. The
exploitation of slave labour was made it possible to meet the growing demand in the European
markets for sugar, indigo and coffee.
(v) The National Assembly held long debates about whether the rights of man should be extended
to all. French subjects including those in the colonies. But it did not pass any laws fearing
oppositions from Businessman, whose income depended on the slave trade. It was finally the
convections which in 1794 legislated to free all slaves in the French overseas possessions. This,
however, turn out to be a short-term measure as it was reintroduced by Napoleon 10 years later.

11.Which period in French history is known as the Reign of Terror? Give Reasons.
Ans. The period from 1793 to 1794 is known as a Reign of Terror. The following are some ofthe
reasons:
(i) During this period, Robespierre followed the policy of severe control and punishment.

(ii) All those whom he saw as the Enemies of the republic that is Ex- Noble and the clergy,
members of other political parties, member of his own party, who did not agreed with his
methods were arrested, imprison and then tried by a Revolutionary Tribunal.
(iii) If the court found them guilty they were guillotined.
(iv) Robespierre government issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and price. Meat and
bread rationed. The use of more expensive white flour was forbidden, all citizens were required to
eat bread made of whole wheat. Equality was also sought to be practiced through forms of speech
and address.
(v) Robespierre pursued his policies so relentlessly that even his supporters began to demand
moderation.
12. What do you Know about ‘The Estate general”?
Ans: The estate general was a political body. To which the three states sent their representatives. In
France of the old regime, the monarch did not have the power to impose taxes to his will alone.
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. Differentiate between Active and passive citizens.

Ans: Active citizens. Only men. Above 25 years of age. Who paid taxes equal to at least three days of
a liberal switch back given the status of active citizens and the right to vote.
Passive citizens. Whereas the remaining men, as well as all the women of France who were not
entitled to vote, were called passive citizens.

14.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 into marriage against their will.
iii) Because was made legal and could be applied for by both men and women.
iv) Women would now be trained for jobs, could become artist, or run small business.