Chapter-1 “Some aspects of French Revolution” Class-IX

Important objectives: (part-1)

1. France was called the "Political Prison" by - Georges Lefebvre.
2. Georges Lefebvre was an eminent historian of the French Revolution.
3. The author of the book- " The French Revolution" was Georges Lefebvre.
4. The period prior to the revolution in France came to be known as the " Ancient Regime" (Ancien Regime in French
language).
5. The French Revolution broke out on 14th July, 1789.
6. The French people (commoners) were put to prison without trial, by the royal writ known as 'letter de cachet' or
sealed letter.
7. France was called as the "museum of economic errors" by Adam Smith (a famous economist).
8. The French term Ancien Regime is synonymous with the English Ancient Regime meaning 'old order'.
9. The term Ancien Regime was first coined out by a renowned French pamphleteer William Doyle in 1788 A.D.
10. The book "The Ancien Regime" was authored by William Doyle.
11. The National Constituent Assembly often referred to the term 'former regime'.
12. The benefits of the hiked revenue went to the pockets of the revenue collectors (also known as farmers-general).
13. The two types if taxes/revenues prevailed in France before the Revolution were (1) Indirect Taxes and (2) Direct
Taxes.
14. Gabelle was an indirect tax collected on salt.
15. Traites was an example of indirect tax collected on consumer goods.
16. Aides was an example of indirect tax collected on miscellaneous excise duty.
17. Taille was an example of direct tax levied on total income in Northern France.
18. Capitation (poll tax) was an example of direct tax which originally levied for on all Frenchman.
19. Vingtieme (direct tax) was levied on income from real estate.
20. In France the First Estate and the Second Estate were exempted paying taxes.
21. Corvee (direct tax) was the labour service demanded on royal highways.
22. In the pre-revolutionary era France was a "land of privileges".
23. The first two Estates, the clergy and the nobility, belonged to the "Privileged class" (Haves).
24. The Third Estate belonged to the "Unprivileged class" (Haves Not).
25. The kings of France were believers of "Divine Rights of Kingship".
26. The French Kings considered themselves as the representatives of God.
27. Under king Louis XIV France displayed a disciplined administration.
28. The pre-revolutionary French society was divided into three classes or Estates. These are (2) the clergy (2) the
nobility and (3) the commoners.
29. The "Clergy" belonged to the First Estate, the Nobles belonged to the Second Estate and the middle class
(bourgeoisie), peasants, urban workers etc. belonged to the Third Estate.
30. There were two divisions in the Second Estate, namely (1) Nobles of Sword (court nobles) and the (2) Nobles of
Robe.
31. The French word bourgeoisie is commonly translated as the 'middle class'.
32. The Bourgeoisie included teachers, doctors, lawyers, office-holders, businessmen, merchants etc.
33. Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire were the French philosophers.
34. Vauban was French military engineer.
35. The physiocrats were the supporters of Laissez-faire (free trade).
36. Calonne was the Finance minister of Louis XVI.
37. Brienne became the finance me minister of France after Calonne.
38. The "Aristocratic Revolt" of France took place in 1788 A.D.
39. Before 1789, the meeting of States General was conducted in 1614 for the last time.
40. Before the French Revolution (1789) the meeting if States General was held on 5th May, 1789.
41. The total number of representatives in the Estates General was- 1214.

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42. 'Vote per Capita' means - "one man one vote".
43. The famous "Tennis Court Oath" was taken on 20th June, 1789.
44. The infamous "Bastille Fort" was attacked on 14th July, 1789.
45. Bastille was an old fortress used as a prison.
46. The Bastille stood as a symbol of royal despotism.
47. Saint Antoine was a suburb town of France.
48. St. Petersburg is located in Russia.
49. After the fall of Bastille, the power passed into the hands of the committee of propertied people who formed the
new Paris Commune and the National Guard.
50. The National “Constituent Assembly” abolished Feudalism and Serfdom in France in 1791 A.D.

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