FRENCH REVOLUtion

VERY SHORT ANSWERS

1.Why was the treasury of France empty when Louis XVI ascended the throne

Long years of war had drain the financial resources of France and along with it
was the cost of maintaining and extravagant court at immense palace of
Versailles

2. Why did the French government increase the taxes

Ans -to meet its regular expenses such as the cost of maintaining an army the
court running government officers or universities the state was forced to increase
the taxes

3. What was Marseillaise

It was a patriotic song sung by volunteers of marseilles as they marched into
Paris. Marseillaise is now the National anthem of France

4.who were san -culottes

They were the common lower class working people in late 18 century. who were
long trousers rather than the knee breeches favoured by the aristocracy. They
were red cap to symbolise Liberty.

5. Which period is known as reign of terror in France

Maximilien robespierres period is known as "reign of terror "when he followed a
policy of severe control and punishment in France

SHORT ANSWERS
II. Answer the following
1. Describe the French division of society
(i) The French society was divided into three estates
(ii) The first estate was Clergy. It comprised of the people who are working in the
church
(iii) The second estate was nobility which is consist of the royal king family and
their relatives
(iv) The third estate divided into three groups
(v) First group of third estate has the big businessmen, merchants, court officials
and lawyers etcThe second group of third estate has peasants and artisans
and the third group has the small peasants landless laborers and servants
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2. What was the role of the philosophers in the French revolution
Ideas of having a society based on freedom and equal laws and
opportunities for all were put forward by the French philosophers

1) John locke- Locke wrote "The two treaties of Government"in this book he
criticized the divine and absolute rights of the monarch rulers
Jean Jacques Rousseau -Rousseau had written his view points in his book
"The social contract" he had put forward the idea of formation of a government
based on a social contract between people and their representatives

Montesquieu- His ideas were proposed in his book "The spirit of the laws" according
to him there should be a division of power between the three important organs the
legislature that executive and the judiciary

The ideas of these philosophers were discuss by common people in salon and
coffee houses and inspired them to fight for their rights
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3. What rights were provided by the French constitution

The constitution begin with a declaration of the rights of a man and citizen. Right
such as the right to life, freedom of speech freedom of opinion equality before law
were established.

These rights workers as natural rights which belong to each human being by birth
and could not be taken away

It was the duty of the government to protect these natural rights of the citizens
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4. What was a Directory ? why was it removed from france ?

After the fall of Jacobins ,a new Constitution was formed which denied the right to
vote to non properties men.
It provided to elected legislative councils who appointed a directory and executive
made up of 5 members.
However the directors often clashed with the legislative councils and were finally
dismissed.
With this political instability emergency in France which game rise to military dictator
Napoleon Bonaparte
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5.Which laws were made to improve the status of women in the French society

In the beginning the revolutionary government introduced lost to improve the lives of
women
1. Schooling was made compulsory for all girls
2. Their father's could know longer force them into marriage against their will
3. Divorce was made legal and could be applied for by both men and women
4. Women could now betrayed for jobs could become artist or run small business
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 6.What does subsistence crisis mean what led to substance crisis in France?

Subsistence crisis is an extreme situation where the basic means of livelyhood are in
danger.
The demand for food grains were increased as population had increased in France
from 23 million to 828 million.
Production of grains could not keep pace with the demand. So the price of the bread
which was the staple diet of the majority rose rapidly

Most workers were employed as labours in workshop whose owner fix their wages.
But wages did not keep face with the rise in prices

so the gap between the poor and the rich guided things became was whenever
brought or had held reduce the harvest will stop this led to substance crisis
something that occurred frequently in a France during the old resume
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Long Answers.
1. Explain the causes of French Revolution
(i) Despotic rule of Louis XVI : He became the ruler of France in 1774. He drained
the financial resources of France by long wars and extravagant court
expenses and his luxurious lifestyle.
(ii) Division of French society: The French society was divided into three estates.
The maximum wealth of France was in the hands of the first two estates and
the third estate needed to pay all the taxes.
(iii) Rising prices: Due to the subsistence crisis the prices of the food grains rose
drastically. The poor people are not able to meet the basic needs.
(iv) Inspiration of the philosophers: Philosophers like John Locke, Rousseau and
Montesquieu propagated the ideas of having a society where people would
enjoy freedom, equality etc.
(v) Role of the middle class: The 18th century witnessed the emergence of social
groups termed as middle class, who earned their wealth through an expanding
trade of the manufactured goods, being exported. The middle class people
believed that the privileges should be given by merits not by birth.
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2. Explain the outbreak of French Revolution

(i) Meeting of the Estate General: On 5th may 1789, Louis XVI called for a meeting
to propose new taxes in France. First two estates only get the seat to sit. The
third estate has to stand in the court.
(ii) Demand for UAF: First two estates have 300 representatives each and the third
estate has 600 members. Members of 3rd estate requested to change the one
estate one vote into one representative one vote. But the king rejected the
request of the 3rd estate.
(iii) Formation of the National Assembly: the third estate walked out from the court
and they gathered on 20th June in the palace of Versailles and declared
themselves as national assembly and started drafting a constitution for
France.
 (iv) Women’s Revolt: The prices of the breads were increased due to severe
winter and failure of crops and it was exploited by the bakers. The women
need to stand in the queue for a long time which makes the women revolt.
(v) Revolt by peasants: The countryside rumors spread from the village to village
that their ripe crops would be destroyed by the hired bands of lords of manors.
So the peasants attacked the residential place of lords and looted their money
(vi) Fall of Bastille fort: The king ordered the troop to move towards Paris, the
people got the rumor that the king is going to order for the open fire. So,
people gathered and attacked and destroyed the Bastille fort.
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Q3. What do you know about triangular slave trade? what legislative measures were
taken to end slavery in French colonies?

Reluctance of European to go and work in distant and unfamiliar lands meant a

shortage of labour on the plantations. So this was met by triangular slave trade
between Europe, Africa and America

The exploitation of slave labour made it possible to meet the growing demand in
European markets for sugar, coffee and Indigo

Legislative measures
1. Throughout the 18th century there was a little criticism of slavery in France.
2. The national assembly held long debate 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 opposition from businessman whoes incomes depended on the
slave trade
3. It was finally the convention when in 1794 legislated to free all slaves in the French
overseas possessions
4. This however turned out to be a short term measure 10 years later Napoleon
reintroduced slavery
5. Plantation owners understood their freedom as including the right to enslave
African negros in pursuit of their economic interests
6. Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848

EXIT CARD ( IT IS GIVEN BELOW )

(i) SUBJECT ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

1. MAKE A TIME LINE FOR FRECH REVOLUTION
2. DO THE FRANCE MAP AND STICK IN THE CLASS WORK REFER MAP BOOK
3. DO THE MAP GIVEN BELOW AND STICK IN YOUR NOTE BOOK
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