The French Revolution

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.

Which incident sparked the French Revolution?

The attack by the third estate on the Bastille State prison (14th July 1789) and setting free the prisoners
was the incident which sparked the French Revolution.

Question 2.

Why was Bastille prison attacked?

The revolutionaries attacked the Bastille prison with a hope to find hoarded ammunition for the
revolution.

Why was the Bastille hated by all?

Bastille was hated by all because it was seen as a symbol of the despotic power of the king.

Question 4.

What did the French Revolution of 1789 stand for?

The French Revolution of 1789 stood for the ideas of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

Question 5.

What was the immediate cause of rioting in Paris?

The high price of bread was the immediate cause of rioting in Paris.

Question 6.

Which ruler came to power in France in 1774? [CBSE 2012]

Louis XVI of the Bourbon family ascended the throne of France in 1774.

Question 7.

What activity of the French monarchy hastened the revolution?

The extravagant lifestyle of the monarch brought France on the verge of bankruptcy and hastened the
revolution.

Question 8.

How did the American War of Independence add more debt to France?
The French army supported thirteen colonies of America in the war of independence against Great
Britain. It added one billion livres (currency unit in France) that had risen to more than two billion livres
with interest.

Question 9.

Why did the French government increase the taxes?

To meet the regular expenses such as cost of maintaining an army, the court and running the
government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase taxes.

Question 10.

What was the Old Regime?

The term Old Regime is usually used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789.

Question 11.

Which estate paid taxes out of all?

The third estate paid taxes out of all.

Question 12.

How was the society divided before the French Revolution?

Before the French Revolution, the society was divided into three estates.

(a) The 1st estate consists of the clergy.

(b) The 2nd estate consists of the nobles.

(c) The 3rd estate included big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, landless
labourers, servants and artisans.

Question 13.

Who owned the majority of land in 18th century France?

The nobels, the Church and the richer members of the third estate owned the 60% of land in France.

Question 14.

What was the most important privilege enjoyed by the first two estates?

The most important privilege enjoyed by the first two estates was the exemption from payment of taxes
to the states.

Question 15.
Which estate enjoyed the feudal privileges? What were the feudal privileges?

The feudal privileges were enjoyed by the second estate i.e., nobels. Nobels collected the feudal dues
from the peasants comes under the feudal privileges.

Question 16.

What were the conditions of eighteenth century french peasants?

Peasants were obliged to render services to the lord to work in his fields or house to serve in the army
or to participate in building roads.

Question 17.

What was Tithe?

Tithe was a tax levied by the Church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.

Question 18.

Which types of taxes were levied by the states?

The taxes levied by the state included a direct tax called taille and number of other indirect taxes levied
on everyday consumption articles like salt or tobacco.

Question 19.

Why had the peasants and workers had participated in revolts?

To protest against increasing taxes and food scarcity, peasants and workers had started participating in
revolts.

Question 20.

Which social group emerged in France in the 18th century? [CBSE 20131

The middle class emerged in France in the 18th century.

Question 21.

Name the Philosophers who put forward the ideas of freedom, equal laws and opportunities for all in
French society.

The philosophers were John Locke, Montesquieu and Jean Jacques Rousseau.

Question 22.

What did John Locke write in his book Two Treaties of Government? [CBSE 2011]

John Locke sought to refute the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch in his book.
Question 23.

Which form of government was proposed by Rousseau?

Rousseau proposed the form of government which was based on a social contract between people and
their representative.

Question 24.

Who wrote The Spirit of the Laws? [CBSE 2016]

The Spirit of the Laws was written by Montesquieu.

Question 25.

Mention the ideas proposed by Montesquieu in the book The Spirit of the Laws.

Fie proposed a division of power within government between the executive, the legislative and the
judiciary.

Question 26.

Where and when did the ideas of division of power within government came into effect?

This idea firstly came into effect in USA, after the thirteen American colonies declared their
independence from America.

Question 27.

What did become an example for political thinkers in France?

The American Constitution and its guarantee of individual rights became an example for political
thinkers in France.

Question 28.

Where were the ideas of the philosophers discussed intensively in France?

The ideas of the philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee-houses and spread among
people through books and newspapers.

Question 29.

Which news enraged the system of privileges in eighteenth century France?

The news of imposing more taxes by the king of France i.e., Louis XVI enraged the system of privileges.
Question 30.

What was the Estates General? [CBSE 2014]

The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates sent their representatives.

Question 31.

Why was the meeting of Estate General called in France during Old Regime?

During Old Regime of France, the King lacks the power to impose taxes. For this purpose, he had to call a
meeting of Estate General which further on pass the proposal for new taxes.

Question 32.

What was the representation of the three estates at the Estate General Assembly of 1789?

The first and the second estates sent 300 representatives each, who were seated facing each other on
two sides. The third estate sent 600 members who had to stand.

Question 33.

When and where did Louis XVI called the assembly of General Estate?

On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called the assembly of General Estate in a resplendent hall in Versailles.

Question 34.

Which principle was followed by Estate General for taking vote? [HOTS]

According to the principle, each estate has one vote.

Question 35.

Which proposal of the third estate was refused by King Louis XVI?

The third estate demanded that voting should be conducted by the assembly as a whole in which each
member had one vote. But the king refused this proposal.

Question 36.

In which book did Rousseau mention the idea of one person, one vote? [CBSE 2014]

In The Social Contract, Rousseau wrote about one person, one vote.

Question 37.

What step was taken by the third estate when their demand was refused?
The third estate assembled in the indoor tennis court hall which was in the Versailles. They sworned to
draft a constitution for France in which would limit the power of monarchs and also declared
themselves a National Assembly.

Question 38.

Who was Mirabeau?

Mirabeau belonged to a nobel family. He was convinced with the need to do away with the society of
feudal privileges and led the representatives of the 3rd estate.

Question 39.

What do you know about Abbe Sieyes? [CBSE 2011]

Abbe Sieyes was originally a priest. He wrote an influential pamphlet named ‘What is the Third Estate’?

Question 40.

Define Chateaux.

A Chateaux is a castle or stately residence belonging to a king or a nobleman.

Question 41.

What was the decree of the National Assembly of 1789?

The decree of the National Assembly of 1789 was to abolish the feudal system of obligations and taxes.

Question 42.

When did the National Assembly completed the drafting of the constitution?

In 1791, the National Assembly completed the drafting of the constitution.

Question 43.

What was the objective of the National Assembly’s draft completed in 1791?

The National Assembly’s draft of 1791 aimed at limiting the powers of the monarch

Question 44.

What made France a constitutional monarch?

Limiting the powers of the monarch and separating the power of administration among different
institutions i.e., the legislature, the executive and the judiciary made France a constitutional monarch.

Question 45.
Which section of the French society got political right by the constitution of 1791? [CBSE 2013]

Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of labourer’s wage got the status
of active citizens and also right to vote.

Question 46.

Which document was in the beginning of the French constitution?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was in the begining of the French revolution.

Question 47.

Which rights were the natural and inalienable rights according to the French Constitution?

The natural and inalienable rights were the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and
equality before law.

Question 48.

What was the significance of natural and unalienable rights?

These rights belonged to each human being by birth and could not be taken away.

Question 49.

What was the decision taken by National Assembly in April 1792?

National Assembly declared was against Prussia and Austria in April 1792.

Question 50.

What was Marseillaise? Who composed it? [CBSE 2014]

Marseillaise was one of the patriotic songs sung by volunteers from Marseilles as they marched into

Paris and got its name. It was composed by Roget de L Isle. It is now the national anthem of France.

Question 51.

What were the roles played by people of French when fight took place with Prussia and Austria?

The French men were fighting at the front and women were left with the tasks of households and

also earning livelihoods for the family.

Question 52.

Why were the political clubs formed in France?

Question 53.

Which was the most successful of the political clubs formed in France? How did it get its name?

The most successful of the clubs was that of the Jacobins. It got its name from the former convent

of St Jacob in Paris.

Question 54.

Who were the members of the Jacobin Club? Name the leader.

The members of the Jacobin club were from the less prosperous sections of the French society, for

example small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers, pastry cooks, etc. Maximilian Robespierre was
its leader.

Question 55.

Who were Sans-culottes?

The Jacobins came to be known as Sans-culottes, which literally means those without knee breeches.

Question 56.

What was the name give to newly-elected assembly of the Jacobins?

The newly elected assembly of the Jacobins was called the Convention. It abolished the monarchy

and declared France a republic.

Question 57.

Explain the term ‘republic’.

Republic is a form of government where the people elect the government including the head of the
government. There is no hereditary monarchy.

Question 58.

Define Treason.

Treason means betrayal of one’s country or government.

Question 59.

Why was Louis XVI sentenced to death?

Question 60.

Which period in France was known as Reign of Terror? Why?

The period of 1793 to 1794 was known as the Reign of Terror because Robespierre followed the policy
of severe control and punishment.

Question 61.

Against whom the Robespierre followed the policy of severe control and punishment?

Against all those persons whom he considered the enemies of the republic. These included ex-nobels,
clergy, other political parties members and also some members from his political party who did not
agree within his policies.

Question 62.

What was guillotine?

Guillotine was a device consisting of two poles and a blade using which a person was beheaded. It was
named after Dr Guillotine who invented it.

Question 63.

Which class came into power after the fall of Jacobin government?

The wealthier middle class came into power after the fall of Jacobin government.

Question 64.

To whom the new constitution denied the vote?

The new constitution of wealthier middle class government denied vote to non-propertied sections of
society.

Question 65.

What was Directory?

Directory was an executive body of five members. Directory was appointed by two elected legislative
councils.

Question 66.

Why the executive body like Directory was introduced?

Question 67.

How did the Napoleon Bonaparte come to power?

Napoleon, a military dictator, came to power due to the political instability of the Directory.

Question 68.

What was the status of education among women during French revolution?

Most of the women did not have access to education or job-training. Only daughters of nobels or
wealthier members of the third estate could study at a convent.

Question 69.

What did the women in France do to discuss and voice their interests?

In order to discuss and voice their interests, the women started their political clubs and newspapers.

Question 70.

Name an important political club formed by women in France.

The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was the famous club formed by women in France.

Question 71.

According to French women, how their interests were presented in new government?

According to them, when they got the right to vote, to be elected to the assembly and to hold political
office with this step, their interests were presented in new government.

Question 72.

When did the new government issued laws to close down the women’s club?

The new government issued laws during the Reign of Terror in 1793-94.

Question 73.

When did French women got the political rights?

In 1946, women in France got the political rights.

Question 74.
Who wrote the Declaration of the Rights of woman and citizen?

Olympe de Gouges wrote a Declaration of the Rights of woman and citizen in 1791.

Question 75.

What was the most revolutionary reform of the Jacobin regime?

The most revolutionary reform of the Jacobin regime was the abolition of slavery in the French colonies.

Question 76.

List four commodities supplied by the French colonies in the Caribbean.

The French colonies in the Caribbean were important suppliers of tobacco, indigo, sugar and coffee.

Question 77.

Between which three continents was the slave trade carried out?

A triangular slave trade was carried out between Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Question 78.

Name the ports of France from where the slave trade was carried out.

The slave trade was carried out from the ports of Bordeaux or Nantes.

Question 79.

Why had the exploitation of slave labour done?

The exploitation of slave labour had done to meet the growing demand in European markets for sugar,
coffee and indigo.

Question 80.

Why did the National Assembly did not pass any law regarding exploitation of slave labour?

They were fearing from the opposition of businessmen whose income was depend on the slave trade.

Question 81.

What the freedom mean in view of plantation owners?

In view of plantation owner, freedom included the right to enslave African Negroes in pursuit of their
economic interest.

Question 82.
When did the slavery Anally abolished in French colonies?

In 1848, slavery was finally abolished from French colonies.

Question 83.

Which law came into effect soon after the incident of Bastille 1789?

Abolition of censorship came into effect after the incident of Bastille 1789.

Question 84.

Which document proclaimed the freedom of speech as natural right?

The freedom of speech as natural right was proclaimed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and
Citizen.

Question 85.

Who crowned himself as Emperor of France?

Napolean Bonaparte crowned himself as Emperor of France in 1804.

Question 86.

What actions proved Napoleon as moderniser of Europe? [HOTSJ

He introduced many laws like a uniform system of weights and measures provided by the decimal

system and protection of private property.

Question 87.

How were Napoleon image taken up by the people? What image came later?

Napoleon was seen as liberator who might bought freedom for the people but the Napoleon army was
seen later as invading forces.

Question 88.

Where was Napoleon defeated?

Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815.

Question 89.

How did the colonised people created the sovereign nation state?
They created the sovereign nation state by redefining the idea of freedom from bondage into a
movement.

Question 90.

Name the two Indian individuals who responded to the ideas coming from revolutionary France.

The two Indian individuals who responded to the ideas coming from revolutionary France, were Raja
Rammohan Roy and Tipu Sultan.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 91.

Describe the events that took place on 14th July 1789 in France.

The following events took place on 14th July 1789.

(a) The king had ordered the troops to move into the city. There were rumours that he would soon order
the troops to open fire upon citizens.

(b) Around 7,000 men and women formed a militia and broke into a number of government buildings in
search of arms.

(c) Then the fortress-prison of Bastille was stormed by hundreds of people with the hope to find
hoarded ammunition. Bastille was destroyed completely as it was hated by all.

Question 92.

On ascending the throne of France, Louis XVI found the treasury empty. Why was the treasury empty?

The causes for empty treasury at the time of his accession were as follows.

(a) The financial resources of France had drained due to the long years of war.

(b) The high cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace of Versailles also added to
the financial drain.

(c) France had helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from Britain. This
increased the debt to more than 2 billion livres.

Question 93.

Describe the divisions of the French society before the French Revolution.

Before the French Revolution, the French society was divided into three estates.

(a) The 1st estate was comprised of the Church and the clergy. They enjoyed certain privileges by birth.
The most important of these privileges was exemption from paying taxes.
(b) The 2nd estate was comprised of the nobles and other rich people of the society. These were also
exempted from paying taxes. They also enjoyed feudal privileges which included collection of feudal
dues by the peasants.

(c) The 3rd estate was comprised of big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants,
artisans, landless labourers and servants. Within the third estate, some were rich and others were poor.
The peasants obliged the landlords by working on their fields, in their houses, to serve in the army or to
participate in the building of roads. They were paying all direct taxes like taille and a number of indirect
taxes on salt or tobacco, but had no rights.

Question 94.

Which three causes led to the ‘subsistence crisis’ in France during the Old Regime? [CBSE 2014]

The following points show how the subsistence crisis occurred in France during the Old Regime.

(a) The population of France increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. This led to the
increase in demand for foodgrains.

(b) When the production of foodgrains could not keep pace with the growing demand, the price of bread
which was the staple food increased rapidly.

(c) On the other hand, the wages could not keep pace with the rise in prices. At the time of drought or
hail, harvest reduced and things got worsed. Thus, the gap between the poor and the rich widened and
this led to the subsistence crisis.

Question 95.

Describe the middle class in three points.

The following points describe the middle class in French society.

(a) The middle class was a social group that emerged in France in the 18th century. This class made
money through an expanding overseas trade and by manufacturing goods like woollen and silk textiles.

(b) The middle class, along with merchants and manufacturers, included professionals like lawyers and
administrative officials.

(c) All these people were educated believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth and a
person’s position in society should be based on his merit.

Question 96.

What was the tennis court oath? [HOTS]

The third estate representatives viewed themselves as spokesmen for the whole French nation. They
assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of Versailles on 20 June 1789. There they
declared themselves as a National Assembly.
Question 97.

Explain the turmoil in France while the National Assembly was busy at Versailles.

While the National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting the constitution, the rest of France seethed
with turmoil in the following ways.

(a) A severe winter had meant a bad harvest, resulting in rising price of bread thus, the situation was
exploited by bakers and hoarded supplies. Angry women stormed into the shops after standing for long
hours in bakery queues.

(b) The army was ordered by the king to more into the city. There were rumours that army would be
ordered to open fire upon the citizens. Thousands of agitated people gathered and decided to form a
militia.

(c) They broke into a number of government buildings in search of arms. They distroyed the prison of
Bastille on 14 July 1789.

Question 98.

How did peasants protest against the feudal lords or nobles of France?

Peasants protested against the feudal lords or nobles in the following ways.

(a) In the countryside there were rumours spread from village to village that the lords of the manor had
hired hands of brigands who were on their way to destroy the ripe crops. Caught in frenzy of fear,
peasants in several districts seized hoes and pitchforks and attacked Chateaux.

(b) They looted hoarded grain and burnt down documents containing records of manorial dues.

(c) A large number of nobles fled from their homes, many of them migrating to the neighouring
countries.

Question 99.

How was the National Assembly recognised and how did it start exercising its powers?

Faced with revolting people, Louis XVI recognised the National Assembly and accepted that his

powers would from now on be checked by the constitution.

National Assembly started exercising its power in the following ways.

(a) On the night of 4 August, 1789, the Assembly passed the law for abolishing feudal system of
obligations and taxes, the clergy members were also forced to give up their privileges.

(b) Tithes were abolished and lands owned by the Church were seized and all this resulted in acquiring
assets worth at least 2 billion livres.
Question 100.

Describe how the new political system of constitutional monarchy worked practice in France. The new
political system of constitutional monarchy in France worked in the following manner:

The constitution of 1791 had given the power to make laws to the National Assembly, that was indirectly
elected by a group of electors voted by the citizens who had chosen the assembly.

The right to vote was given to men above 25 years of age, who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a
labourer’s wage, were given the status of active citizens, i.e., they were entitled to vote.

The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens. To qualify as an elector and as a
member of the assembly, a man had to belong to the highest bracket of taxpayers.

Question 101.

Write a short note on national and inalienable rights.

The constitution of France began with a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens. Rights ‘ such as
right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law were established as natural and
inalienable rights i.e., they belong to each human being by birth and could not be taken away. It is the
duty of the state to protect each citizen’s natural rights.

Question 102.

List and explain the successful achievements of the National Assembly from 1789-1791. [HOTS]

The successful achievements of the National Assembly from 1789-1791 were as follows:

(a) One of the most successful achievements of the National Assembly was the adoption of the
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen which upheld the equality of all before law, eligibility of all
for public offices, freedom from arrest or punishment without a proven cause and right to freedom of
speech and expression.

(b) It also laid emphasis that the burden of taxation must be borne by all without any distinction and so
nobles and clergy were denied special privileges.

(c) A new constitution was formed providing a constitutional monarchy where the powers of the
monarch are limited and the legislative powers are given to the National Assembly.

Question 103.

Write a short note on Marseillaise.

Marseillaise is the national anthem of France. It was written by Roget de L ‘Isle during the French
Revolution. It aroused such enthusiasm that large number of people joined the company. It was first
sung in Paris when the Marseilles battalion sang it as they marched into Paris and thus it was named so.

Question 104.
Who were Jacobins? What was their role in emergence of France as a Republic?

Or

Who were the Jacobins? Write about it in three points.

Jacobins were the most radical and ruthless of the political groups formed in the wake of the French
Revolution. They were the members of a democratic club established in 1789. Jacobins were led by
Maximilian Robespierre. Angered by the short supplies and high prices of foodgrains Jacobins stormed
the Palace of the Tuileries.

The king’s guards were killed and the king was held hostage for several hours. The assembly later, voted
to imprison the royal family. Elections were held in which every man of 21 years and above got the right
to vote. The Convention was known as newly elected assembly, which abolished monarchy and declared
France a republic.

Question 105.

What do you mean by Directory? Why was it removed from France?

The Directory was a five-member committee which governed France when the political power

was passed into the hands of the wealthier middle class. It was meant as a safeguard against the

concentration of power in the hands of one-man executive as under the Jacobins.

The Directors often clashed with the legislative councils who in turn sought to dismiss them. This led to
political instability of Directory in France. It paved the way for the rise of a military dictator called
Napoleon Bonaparte.

Question 106.

Evaluate the role of women in France before the revolution.

Women played a very significant role in France before the French Revolution. They played an active role
and brought about important changes. They worked for their living like dress makers, laundry workers,
flower vendors, fruit and vegetable vendors. Sometimes they also worked as maid servants for rich
people. They cooked food, fetched water and stood in queues for bread. In order to discuss – and voice
their interests women started their own political clubs and newspapers. One of the major demand was
right to vote. The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was one such club formed by women.

Question 107.

How did the women suffer in France during the Old Regime?

During the Old Regime, most women worked to earn a living. They worked as seamstresses or
laundresses or domestic servants in the houses of rich people. Many sold fruits, flowers and vegetables
at the market to earn money.
(b) Most of them were not educated or trained to do any job. Only the daughters of rich people could
study.

(c) Working women had to take care of their families too. They had to fetch water, queue up for bread,
cook and look after the children.

Therefore, it can be said that women suffered a lot during the Old Regime.

Question 108.

What was the condition of slave trade in the seventeenth century?

The conditions of slaves during salve labour was as follows:

(a) As the slave trade began in seventeenth century, the slaves were bought from local chieftians.

(b) After branding and shackling, the slaves were packed tightly into ships for the three-month long
voyage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.

(c) At the African coast, they were sold to plantation owners.

Question 109.

How did storming of Bastille became the main cause of the French Revolution?

Storming of Bastille became the main cause of the French Revolution because of the following

reasons.

(a) While the National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a constitution, the rest of France faced
turmoil. Due to bad harvest, price of bread increased.

(b) This situation worsened when the bakers started hoarding supplies.

(c) Women who stood in queues at the bakery stormed the shops. At the same time the king had ordered
troops to move into Paris.

As a result on 14 July the angry crowd stormed and destroyed Bastille. It was hated by all as it stood for
the despotic powers of the king.