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Name………... Roll no……
Ch-The French Revolution
1.Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in
France
Ans— The circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in
France were:
(I) Social inequality: French society in the eighteenth century was divided
into three estates namely the clergy, the nobility
and the Third Estate, which was comprised of peasants, officials and small
businessmen. It was only the Third Estate that paid taxes. Clergy and
nobility were exempted from taxes.
(II) Subsistence crisis: The population of France also increased from 23
million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. Food
grains were now in great demand. Price of bread shot up. Wages did not
keep pace with the rising prices. This led to subsistence crisis.
(ill) Economic problems: Long years of war had drained the financial
resources of France. France had a debt of more than
2 billion lives. To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of
maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities,
the state was compelled to increase taxes.
(iv) Strongmiddle class: The middle class became educated and wealthy
during the eighteenth century. They believed that
no group in society should be given privileges by birth. Ideas of equality and
freedom were put forward by philosophers.
The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and
coffee houses and spread among people.
(v) Immediate causes: On 5th May 1789, Louis XVI called together an
assembly of the Estates
General to pass proposals
for new taxes. The Third Estate protested against this proposal but as each
estate had one vote, the king rejected this appeal. They walked out of the
assembly.
2. Which groups of French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups
were forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been
disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?
Ans—
(i) The middle class or the richer members of the Third Estate consisting of
merchants, traders, lawyers, and rich peasants
benefited the most from the French Revolution. The feudal obligations were
no longer to be honoured by the
Third Estate. Tithes, the tax given to the Church, was abolished.
(II) The clergy and the nobility were the groups forced to relinquish power.
They were forced to give up their privilegs. Ther could not collect taxes
and their lands were confiscated.
(III) The
poorer sections of the Third Estate and women were disappointed
with the outcome of the
French Revolution
because their aspirations were not properly fulfilled. For example: Women
were not given voting rights. Poor men win
did not have property or who did not pay taxes were not allowed to vote
3. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world
during the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries
Ans—
(I) The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy
of the French Revolution.
(II) It inspired the Germans, Italians, and Austrians to overthrow their
oppressive regimes.
(III)Colonised people of Asia and Africa demanded liberty, equality and justice
from their colonial masters which finally led to the beginning of national
movements in their countries.
(IV) The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens gave rights such as
right to life, freedom of speech, equality before Law, etc.
4. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be
traced to the French Revolution.
Ans—
(I) Right to Liberty is the power of doing anything which is not injurious to any
other individual.
(II) Right to Equality is the birth right of every individual that prohibits any kind
of discrimination. For example, voting rights are given to all individuals
regardless of gender, class, etc.
(III) Fraternity implies peace and brotherhood among all individuals living in a
society.
(iv) Freedom of expression of one's opinion through speaking, printing
or writing, and taking responsibility of the same if such liberty is abused.
(v) Natural and inalienable rights such as right to life, freedom of
speech and opinion, equality before law, etc., are given to all citizens in
modern nations.
5. Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset
with contradictions?
Explain.
Ans— Yes, the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions.
(I) Law had the right to forbid only actions injurious to society. It had nothing
to say about criminal offences against other individuals.
(II) All citizens were equal before law but when France became a
constitutional monarchy, almost 3 million citizens
including men who did not pay sufficient taxes, women and men under the
age of 25 were not allowed to vote at all
(III) France continued to hold and expand its colonies. Thus, its image as a
liberator could not last for a long time.
(IV) Slavery existed in France till the first half of the nineteenth century.
6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte?
Ans— France was ruled by the Directory, an executive made up of five
members. The Directors often clashed with the Legislative Councils. The
political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of a military
dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte.
After crowning himself as Emperor of France in 1804, he went out to conquer
the neighbouringEuropean countries,
dispossessing dynasties and creating kingdoms where he placed members of
his family. Initially, he was viewed as a
liberator who would bring freedom to the people, but soon the
Napoleonic armies came to be viewed everywhere as an invading force.
