BHAVAN’S PUBLIC SCHOOL, DOHA, QATAR

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-25

IX SOCIAL SCIENCE
HISTORY
Chapter 1 The French Revolution

Notes By-
RADHESH RAMACHANDRAN

Introduction: -

1. In 1789, in the wake of early morning, the city of Paris was in a state of alarm.

2. Rumours spread that the King would open fire upon the citizens.

3. People started gathering and they started breaking a number of government buildings

in search of arms.

4. The commander of the Bastille was killed in the armed fight and the prisoners were

released.

5. People hated the Bastille as it stood for the despotic power of the king.

6. People protested against the high price of bread. A new chain of events began which

led to the execution of the King in France.

Louis XVI, in 1774, ascended the throne of France.

Empty Treasury:-

1. Financial France was drained because of the war.

 2. France, Under Louis XVI, helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their

independence from Britain.

3. The cost of maintaining an army

4. The court

5. The cost of running government offices

6. Luxurious life of the King & the Queen

7. The war added more than a billion livres to a debt that had already risen to more than

2 billion livres.

8. Lenders who gave the state credit, now began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans

French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

The society of estates was part of the feudal system that dated back to the middle ages.

1. 90 percent of the population was dominated by peasants but only a small number of

them owned the land they cultivated.

2. 60 percent of land was owned by nobles.

3. Remaining percent of land -The Church and other richer members of the third estate.

4. The clergy and the nobility, members of the first two estates enjoyed certain

privileges by birth.
 5. The clergy and the nobility were exempted from paying taxes and enjoyed feudal

privileges.

6. All members of the third estate had to pay taxes to the state which included a direct

tax, called taille, and a number of indirect taxes which were levied on articles of

everyday consumption like salt or tobacco.

Methods Adopted to increase the Source of Revenue

1. Taxes were increased to meet regular expenses

2. New taxes introduced

3. Increase in indirect taxes

The Struggle to Survive

1. Increase in population led to a rapid increase for food grains.

2. Production of grains could not keep pace with the demand due to which the price of

bread rose rapidly.

3. Due to low wages paid to the labourers the gap between the poor and the rich

widened.

4. Things became worse whenever drought or hail reduced the harvest.

A Growing Middle Class Envisages an End to Privileges

1. Peasants used to participate in revolts against taxes and food scarcity.

2. Group of the third estate had become prosperous and had access to education and new

ideas.
 3. In the eighteenth century, new social groups emerged, termed the middle class, who

earned their wealth through expanding overseas trade and by manufacturing woollen

and silk textiles that were either exported or bought by the richer members of society.

4. The third estate included professions such as lawyers or administrative officials. A

person’s social position was dependent on their merit.

5. All of these were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged

by birth.

6. Rather, a person’s social position must depend on his merit.

7. A new form of government was proposed by Rousseau based on a social contract

between people and their representatives.

8. Similarly, Montesquieu proposed a division of power within the government between

the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.

9. In the USA, this model of government was put into force. Louis Louis XVI planned to

impose further taxes to meet the expenses.

The Outbreak of the Revolution

1. In France, the monarch didn’t have the power to impose taxes.

2. They had to call a meeting of the Estates-General, a political body to which the three

estates sent their representatives, to pass proposals for new taxes.

3. Louis XVI, on 5 May 1789, called an assembly to pass proposals for new taxes.

4. Representatives from the first and second estates were present and the third estate was

represented by its prosperous and educated members.

5. According to the principle each estate had one vote. But, representatives from the

third estate demanded each member would have one vote. The demand was rejected

so members of the third estate walked out to protest.

 6. They swore not to disperse till a constitution drafted for France that would limit the

powers of the monarch.

Other causes for the outbreak

1. Due to the severe winter, bread price rose and people had to spend hours in long

queues.

2. Rumours spread that the lords of the manor hired bands of brigands to destroy the ripe

crops.

3. In fear, peasants started looting hoarded grain and burnt down documents containing

records of manorial dues.

4. Nobles fled from their homes. Louis XVI accorded recognition to the National

Assembly and accepted the principle that his powers would from now on be checked

by a constitution.

5. The Assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes

on 4 August 1789. Tithes were abolished and lands owned by the Church were

confiscated.

France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy

1. In 1791, The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution and its main

object was to limit the powers of the monarch.

2. These powers were now separated and assigned to different institutions – the

legislature, executive and judiciary.

3. France became a constitutional monarchy.

4. Citizens voted for a group of electors, who in turn chose the Assembly, but

unfortunately, not every citizen had the right to vote.

 5. Men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer’s

wage were entitled to vote.

6. The Constitution began with a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Rights

such as the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law,

were established as ‘natural and inalienable’ rights, that is, they belonged to each

human being by birth and could not be taken away.

Political symbols
The majority of men and women in the eighteenth century could not read or write. So
images and symbols were frequently used instead of printed words to communicate
important ideas. The painting by Le Barbier (Fig. 8) uses many such symbols to
convey the content of the Declaration of Rights.

The broken chain: Chains were used to fetter slaves. A broken chain stands for the act of
becoming free.

The bundle of rods or fasces: One rod can be easily broken, but not an entire bundle.
Strength lies in unity.
The eye within a triangle radiating light: The all seeing eye stands for knowledge. The rays
of the sun will drive away the clouds of ignorance.

Sceptre: Symbol of royal power.

Snake biting its tail to form a ring: Symbol of Eternity. A ring has neither beginning nor
end
Red Phrygian cap: Cap worn by a slave upon becoming free.

Blue-white-red: The national colours of France.

The winged woman: Personification of the law.

The Law Tablet: The law is the same for all, and all are equal before it.

The Reign of Terror

The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Reign of Terror.

1. People, whom Robespierre saw enemies of the republic were arrested, imprisoned and
then tried by a revolutionary tribunal.
2. If they were declared guilty by the court then they were guillotined.

The guillotine is a device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person is
beheaded, named after Dr Guillotin.

3. Laws were issued to place a maximum ceiling on wages and prices.

4. Meat and bread were rationed.
5. Expensive white flour was forbidden to use.
 6. Equality was practised through forms of speech and address.
7. All French men and women were addressed as Citoyen and Citoyenne (Citizen).
8. In July 1794, he was convicted by a court arrested and the next day sent to the
guillotine.
A Directory Rules France
1. Fall of the Jacobin government allowed the wealthier middle classes to seize power.
2. According to the new constitution, non-propertied sections of society denied voting.
3. It provided for two elected legislative councils.
4. The government appointed a Directory, consisting of executives made up of five
members.
5. Political instability paved the way for a military dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Did Women have a Revolution?

1. Women were active participants from the beginning which brought important changes
in the country France.
2. Women from the third estate had to work for a living and they didn’t have access to
education or job training.
3. Daughters of nobles of the third estate were allowed to study at a convent. Working
women also had to care for their families.
4. Compared to men their wages were lower. Women also started their political clubs
and newspapers.
5. The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was one of the most famous
women’s clubs.
6. They demanded equal political rights as men, the right to vote and to hold political
office.
7. The revolutionary government introduced laws to improve the lives of women.
Schooling became compulsory, divorce made legal and they could run small
businesses.
8. During the Reign of Terror, the government closed women’s clubs banning their
political activities.
9. After much struggle, women in France in 1946 won the right to vote.

The Abolition of Slavery

1. Jacobin regime’s most revolutionary social reform was the abolition of slavery in the
French colonies.
2. In the seventeenth century, slavery trade began. Slaves were brought from local
chieftains, branded and shackled and were packed tightly into ships for the three-
month-long voyage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.
3. Slave labour met the growing demand in European markets for sugar, coffee, and
indigo.
4. Throughout the eighteenth century, there was little criticism of slavery in France. In
1794, the Convention legislated to free all slaves in the French overseas possessions.
5. Napoleon introduced slavery after ten years. In 1848, slavery was abolished in French
colonies.

The Revolution and Everyday Life

1. France during 1789 saw changes in the lives of men, women and children.
 2. Abolition of censorship happened in the summer of 1789.
3. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and
expression to be a natural right.
4. Freedom of press meant opposing views of events could be expressed.
5. Plays, songs and festive processions attracted large numbers of people.

Conclusion
Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France, in 1804 and introduced many laws
such as the protection of private property and a uniform system of weights and measures
provided by the decimal system.
Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815. The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were
the most important legacy of the French Revolution.
Colonised peoples reworked on the idea of freedom to create a sovereign nation-state.
CAUSES OF FRENCH REVOLUTION

1. SOCIAL CAUSES: -
French society was ridden with several inequalities. The clergy and nobles led a life of
luxury and enjoyed numerous privileges. The peasant and workers lived a wretched life. They
were under the burden of heavy taxes and forced labour. The middle class also suffered at the
hands of the clergy and the nobles. This state of social inequalities was one the chief cause of
the French Revolution

2. POLITICAL CAUSES:-
Louis XVI was a despotic ruler. He and his queen squandered money on their luxuries living
and wasteful festivities. The high posts were often auctioned, so inefficiency reigned
supreme. The whole administration was corrupt and each department had its own laws.
There was no uniform system and total confusion all around. The people wanted an end of
this decaying administration
3. ECONOMICAL CAUSES:-
Continuous wars had completely broken French economy. The luxurious life of the king and
the queen broke the economy further. The people who could afford to pay the taxes were
exempted and those who could not pay were made to pay all kinds of taxes including
repayment of loans taken by the first and the second estates. Therefore, there was very poor
payment of taxes. The government reached a state of bankruptcy. This proved a major cause
of the French Revolution.
4. RELIGIOUS CAUSES:-
The clergy enjoyed high levels of privileges. They served the rich rather than the poor.
Instead of helping the poor they too derived large income from taxes, religious courts, gifts
etc., from the third estates. They did not care for spiritual duties or religious sentiments and
emotions of the poor man by the clergy. There was exploitation of the poor sections of the
society in the form of free labour for the churches and manor houses. 1/5th of the land was the
church property.
 5. IMMEDIATE CAUSES:-
Louis XVI was compelled to call the meeting of the Estate Generals in 1789, after a lapse of
175 years. On May 1789, Louis XVI called an assembly of the Estates General to pass the
new taxes. Ist & IInd Estates sent 300 representatives each. IIIrd Estates sent 600
representatives -- represented by educated and more prosperous members – Each brought
with them grievances & demands in about 40,000 letters. IIIrd Estates did not allow to
conduct voting as in the past but demanded one vote for each of the members present – on
rejection by the King they walked out of the assembly in protest.

Sample Questions/Answers

1. “The inequality that existed in the French Society in the Old Regime became the cause of
French Revolution”. Justify the statement by giving three suitable examples.

The examples are :

1. French Society was divided into three Estates. The First Estate comprised of clergy,
the Second Estate comprised of nobility and the Third Estate comprised of
businessmen, traders, merchants, artisans, peasants and servants.
2. The members of Church and nobility enjoyed certain privileges by birth, the most
important being the exemption from paying taxes to the State.
3. Feudal dues were extracted by nobles from peasants and one-tenth of the agricultural
produce of peasants, in the form of Tithes came to the share of clergy. All members of
the Third Estate including peasants paid taxes, thus, the burden of financing activities
of the the state through taxes was borne by the Third Estate alone creating heavy
discontentment.

2. How did philosophers influence the thinking of the people of France?

Philosophers influence the thinking of the people of France as :

1. Major changes were introduced in the Russian economy and agriculture after the
revolution. Private property was abolished and land became a state property. Peasants
had the freedom to cultivate on state ” – controlled land.
2. A proper system of centralized planning was introduced with the help of five year
plans. It helped in bringing about technological improvements, economic growth and
helped in removing the inequalities in the society.
3. The revolution acknowledged right to work and identified dignity of labour. Socialist
economy added a new dimension to democracy, by attributing it as a socio-economic
system.
3. What was the role of philosophers and thinkers in the French Revolution? Explain by
giving three examples.

The philosophers and thinkers believed that,no group in a society should be privileged by
birth. They supported a society based on freedom and equal laws.

1. In his Two Treatises of government, John Locke sought to refute the doctrine of the
divine and absolute right of the monarch.
2. Rousseau carried the idea forward, proposing a form of government based on a social
contract between people and their representatives.
3. In The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu proposed a division of power within the
government between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.

4. What measures were taken by Robespierre to bring equality in the French Society?
Answer:
Measures are :

1. Robespierre government issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and prices.
2. Peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at prices fixed by
the government.
3. The use of more expensive white flour was forbidden; all citizens were required to eat
the quality bread, a loaf made of whole wheat.
4. Equality was also sought to be practised through forms of speech and address.
5. Churches were shut down and their buildings converted into barracks or offices.
6. Equality was also sought to be practised through forms of speech and address.

5. How did the peasants contribute to the outbreak of the French Revolution? Explain.

Contribution of the peasants to the outbreak of the French Revolution :

1. The peasants had to pay various taxes to the government, to the nobles and to the
Church.
2. They were subjected to forced labour, they had to work free in the land of the nobles
for three days in a week.
3. Crops were trampled by hunting parties of the nobles. About 81% of their income
went to the State, Nobles, Church, 19% of the income was their to live on grass and
roofs and 1,000 peoples of them died due to starvation. As as whole, the
Administration was corrupt.

6.State the events that led to the formation of the National Assembly.
Answer:

1. The Estates General was a political body of France to which the three estates sent
their representatives. The voting in it had been conducted according to the principle
that each estate had one vote.
2. This time too when Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General, he decided to
continue the same old practice.
3. But the members of the Third Estate demanded that voting now be conducted on the
democratic principle of one person, one vote.
4. When the king rejected this proposal, the members of the Third Estate walked out of
the assembly in protest.
5. They assembled on 20 June, 1789 in the hall of an indoor tennis court in Versailles.
These representatives of the Third Estate viewed themselves as spokesmen for whole
French nation. They declared themselves a National Assembly.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [1 MARK]

Q.1 The Third Estate comprised

(a) Poor servants and small peasants, landless labourers

(b) Peasants and artisans
(c) Big businessmen, merchants, lawyers etc.
(d) All the above

Q.2.That ‘each member should have one vote’ was advocated by:

(a) Georges Danton

(b) Rousseau
(c) Jean Paul Marat
(d) the Jacobins

Q.3.Which of the following decisions was taken by the convention?

(a) Declared France a constitutional monarchy

(b) Abolished the monarchy
(c) All men and women above 21 years got the right to vote
(d) Declared France a Republic

Q.4.Which of the following is not the idea of the revolutionary journalist Desmoulins
about Liberty?

(a) Liberty is finishing off your enemies

(b) Liberty is Happiness, Reason, Equality and Justice
(c) Liberty is the Declaration of Right
(d) Liberty is not a child who has to be disciplined before maturity
Q.5. How does a ‘Subsistence Crisis’ happen?

(a) Bad harvest leads to scarcity of grains

(b) Food prices rise and the poorest cannot buy bread
(c) Leads to weaker bodies, diseases, deaths and even food riots
(d) All the above

Q.6. In the war against Prussia and Austria, the army sang which patriotic song?

(a) 'Liberty', written by an unknown woman poet

(b) ‘Marseillaise’ written by the poet Roget de Lisle
(c) ‘Viva France’ written by a French peasant
(d) None of the above

Q7.Which of the following statements is untrue about the Third Estate?

(a) The Third Estate was made of the poor only

(b) Within the Third Estate some were rich and some were poor
(c) Richer members of the Third Estate owned lands
(d) Peasants were obliged to serve in the army, or build roads

Q.8. Who wrote the pamphlet called ‘What is the Third Estate’?

(a) Mirabeau, a nobleman

(b) Abbe Sieyes
(c) Rousseau, a philosopher
(d) Montesquieu

Q.9. A guillotine was _______________________

(a) A device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person was beheaded
(b) A fine sword with which heads were cut off
(c) A special noose to hang people
(d) none of the above

Q.10. When did the French Revolution begin?

(a) July 14, 1789

(b) January 10, 1780
(c) August 12, 1782
(d) None of the above
Answer: 1(d) 2(b) 3(d) 4(b) 5(d) 6(b) 7(a) 8(b) 9(a)
10(a)

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS [3 MARKS]

Q.1. what was the subsistence crisis? Why did it occur in France during the Old
Regime?
Ans.
1- Increase in Population-The population of France was on the rise. It rose from 23
million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.This led to increase in the demand for food grains.

2-Rise in Prices- The production of food grains could not keep pace with the demand and
the price of bread which was thestaple diet of the majority Rose rapidly.

3- Low wages- The wages also did not keep pace with the rise in prices. The gap between
the Rich and the poor widened. This led to the subsistence crisis.
4. Subsistence crisis-

Q.2.What was the system of voting in the Estates General? What change did the
Third Estate want in this system?

Ans.

Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted

1. According to the principle that each estate had one vote.

2. Members of the Third Estate demanded that voting must now be conducted by the
assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.

3. This was according to the democratic principles put forward by philosophers like
Rousseau in his book, The Social Contract.

Q.3. Describe the incidents that led to the storming of the Bastille.

Ans.

1- National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a constitution; the rest of France
was seething with turmoil.

2- A severe winter had meant a bad harvest, the price of bread rose. Often bakers exploited
the situation and hoarded supplies.
3- After spending hours in long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormed
into the shops.

4- At the same time, the king ordered troops to move into Paris. On 14 July, the agitated
crowd stormed and destroyed Bastille.

Q.4. Describe how the new political system of constitutional monarchy worked in
France.

Ans

The constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly, which
was indirectly elected. That is,

1. Citizens voted for a group of electors, who in turn chose the Assembly. Not all citizens,
however, had the right to vote.

2. Only 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, that is, they were entitled to vote.

3. The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens.

4. To qualify as an elector and then as a member of the Assembly, a man had to belong to
the highest bracket of taxpayers.

Q.5.What was ‘natural and inalienable rights’?

Ans

1-.The constitution began with a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens

2- Rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before
law were established as ‘natural and inalienable rights’, i.e., they belonged to each human
being by birth and could not be taken away

3-It was the duty of the state to protect each citizen’s natural right.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS ( 5 MARKS ):

Q.1. Explain the importance of the following events on the course of the French
Revolution:

(a) Storming of the Bastille (c) The passing of the Civil Constitution of the clergy
Ans. (a) On July 14, 1789, a mob of Paris stormed the fortress – the prison of Bastille –
considered a symbol of oppression and despotism. The Swiss guards were killed and
prisoners set free. The mob stole arms and ammunition. To this day, France celebrates
‘Bastille Day’ on 14thJuly every year.

(c) In 1790, the Civil Constitution nationalised the church. The clergy or group of persons
who enjoyed special powers in the church were also forced to relinquish power. Tithes
were abolished and lands owned by the church were confiscated.

Q.2. Describe the Reign of Terror and role played by Robespierre in it.

Ans.The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Reign of Terror.

1. Maximilian Robespierre, leader of the Jacobins, followed the policy of severe control
and punishment.

2. All those he saw as enemies of the Republic — ex-nobles, clergy, political opponents
— were arrested, tried and guillotined if found guilty.

3. He issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and prices.

4. Meat and bread were rationed.

5. Use of expensive white flour was forbidden.

Robespierre followed his policies so relentlessly that even his supporters began to demand
moderation. Finally, he was convicted, arrested and guillotined in July 1794.

Q.3What did the following symbols convey in the Declaration of Rights?

(i) The broken chain (ii) The bundle of rods or fasces (iii)Sceptre (iv)Snake biting its
tail to form a ring (v) Red Phrygian cap (vi)The law tablet

Ans. (i) the broken chains: Chains were used to fetter slaves. A broken chain stands for
the act of becoming free.

(ii) The bundle of rods or fasces: One rod can be easily broken, but not an entire
bundle.Strength lies in unity.

(iii) Sceptre: Symbol of royal power.

(iv)Snake biting its tail to form a ring: Symbol of eternity. A ring has neither beginning
nor end.
(v) Red Phrygian cap: Cap worn by a slave upon becoming free.

(vi)The law tablet: The law is the same for all, and all are equal before it.

Q.4.write short note on Jacobins?

Ans.1- They got their name from the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris.

2-They belonged to the less prosperous sections of the society.

3-They included small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers, pastry cooks, watch-
makers, printers, as well as servants and daily wage earners.

4-Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.

5-A large group among the Jacobin decided to wear long striped trousers similar to those
worn by dock workers.

6-This was to set themselves apart from the fashionable sections of society especially the
nobles who wore knee breeches.

Q.5. Discuss the participation of women in political clubs, their activities and
demands.

Ans.From the very beginning, women were active participants in the events which brought
about so many important changes in French society.

1. They hoped that their involvement would pressurise the revolutionary government to
introduce measures to improve their lives.

2. Most women of the third estate had to work for a living. They worked as seamstresses
or laundresses, sold flowers, fruits and vegetables at the market, or were employed as
domestic servants in the houses of prosperous people.

3. Most women did not have access to education or job training. Their wages were lower
than those of men.

4. One of their main demands was that women should be given the same political rights as
men.

5. Women were disappointed that the constitution of 1791 reduced them to passive
citizens.
Very Short Answer Questions

1. The Third Estate comprised of what?

Poor servants and small peasants, landless labourers, peasants, artisans, big businessmen,
merchants, lawyers, etc.

2. Who advocated ‘each member should have one vote’?

Rousseau

3. What decision was taken by the convention?

It declared France a Republic

4. How does a ‘Subsistence Crisis’ happen?

‘Subsistence Crisis’ happened in France due to the following reasons: (i) Bad harvest;
(ii)Scarcity of grains; and

(iii) High prices of food

5. In the war against Prussia and Austria, the army sang which patriotic song?

‘Marseillaise’ written by the poet Roget de Lisle

6. Who wrote the pamphlet called ‘What is the Third Estate’?

Abbe Sieyes

7. A guillotine was ...

A device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person was beheaded.

8. When did the French Revolution begin?

July 14, 1789

9. The word “Livres” stands for _______

Unit of currency in France

10. What was the effect of the rise of population of France from about 23 million in 1715
to 28 million in

1789?

Rapid increase in the demand for food grains.

11. What was the ‘Subsistence Crisis’ which occurred frequently in France?

An extreme situation endangered the basic means of livelihood.

12. What was the name of tax which was directly paid to the state by the Third Estate?

Taille

13. What was ‘Estates General’?

A political body

14. Which social groups emerged in the 18th century?

Lawyers, Administrative officials, Middle class

15. The term ‘Old Regime' is usually used to describe ______

Society and institutions of France before 1789 A.D.

16. In which of these countries was the model of government as advocated by

Montesquieu put into effect?

USA

17. ‘Two Treatises on Government’ book was written by whom?

John Locke

18. When did Louis XVI call an assembly of Estates General to pass proposals for new
taxes?

05 May, 1789

19. In the meeting of the Estates General, the members of the Third Estate demanded
that ___

All the three Estates should have one vote.

20. On 20th June, the representatives of the Third Estate assembled in the indoor tennis
court of Versailles

for __________

Drafting a Constitution for France which limited the king’s power.

Chapter: The French Revolution

Subject: History

Class: IX

21. Who led the representatives of the Third Estate in Versailles on 20th June?

Mirabeau And Abbe Sieyes

22. What did Louis XVI do, seeing the power of his revolting subjects?
He accorded recognition to the National Assembly and accepted checks on his powers.

23. According to the new constitution of 1791, the National Assembly was to be ____

Elected indirectly

24. Which people were entitled to vote in France?

Only men above 25 years of age and who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer’s
wage

25. Whom did Louis XVI marry?

Louis XVI married to the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette.

26. Who was common enemy of France and America?

Britain

27. Who owned the lands in French society?

About 60% of the land was owned by Nobles, the Church and other richer members of the
third estate. Peasants

comprised of 90% of the total population, however only a small number of them owned the
land they cultivated.

28. Which privileges was enjoyed by the first two estates?

The members of the first two estates, i.e. the clergy and the nobility, enjoyed certain
privileges by birth. The most

important of these was exemption from paying taxes to the state. The nobles further enjoyed
feudal privileges.

These included feudal dues, which they collect from the peasants.

29. Which thought was put forward by John Locke in his book Two Treatises of
Government?

He refuted the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch. Rousseau carried the
idea forward,

proposing a form of government based on a social contract between people and their
representatives.

30. Which thought was put forward by Montesquieu?

In the Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu proposed a division of power within the government
between the
legislative, the executive and the judiciary.

31. How was ideas of the philosophers spread among people?

The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee-houses and
spread among people

through books and newspapers. These were frequently read aloud in groups for the benefit of
those who could not

read and write.

32. Name two important leaders of the National Assembly.

Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes were two important leaders of the National Assembly.

33. What was the important decree the Assembly legislated?

The Assembly passed a decree abolishing feudal system of obligations and taxes.

34. Name the popular political club of France.

The Jacobin Club was one of the most popular political clubs in France.

35. Name the leader of the Jacobin Club.

Maximilian Robespierre was leader of the Jacobin Club.

36. On what a charge was Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette beheaded?

Both Louis XVI and later Marie Antoinette were beheaded on charges of treason.

37. The 'Reign of Terror is referred to which period in French revolutionary history?

Reign of Maximilian Robespierre, from 1793-94 is referred to as the 'Reign of Terror.'

38. What is meant by the term 'Directory'?

The term 'Directory' refers to the executive board made up of five members.

39. What does a broken chain signify?

A broken chain signifies act of becoming free, as chains were used to imprison and exploit
slaves.

40. Give the name of any one women's club.

The 'Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women' was the most famous women's club.

41. When did French women get voting rights?

After a long struggle in 1946

Chapter: The French Revolution

Subject: History

Class: IX

42. Which factor contributed to the rise of Napoleon?

The political instability of the Directory contributed to the rise of Napoleon.

43. When was Napoleon defeated at Waterloo?

Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in the year 1815

44. Who authored the book 'The Spirit of the Laws'? What was proposed in this book?

Montesquieu was the author of The Spirit of the Laws. In the book, he proposed a division of
power within the

government between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.

45. Which cities became prosperous because of the slave trade?

Port cities like Bordeaux and Nantes prospered due to the flourishing slave trade.

46. When did the Assembly pass a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations
and taxes?

4 August 1789

47. Who was the president of USA during French revolution?

George Washington became the first president of USA at that time.

48. Arrange the following events of French Revolution in chronological order (what
happened next).

(i) Louis XVI is guillotined.

(ii) the Oath of the Tennis Court

(iii) The Bastille falls

(iv) French Republic is declared.

(v) The Great Fear

The correct sequence is (ii) - (iii) - (v) - (iv) - (i)

49. When did Louis XVI call for The Estates General? When was it convened last time?

Louis XVI called for The Estates-General on May 5, 1789. It was called after a gap of 175
years since 1614
50. From where Jacobin's club got its name? Who was the leader of Jacobin's club?

It got its name from the former convent of St Jacob in Paris. Maximillian Robespierre was the
leader of Jacobins.

51. What was the outcome of Battle of Waterloo? When did this battle occur?

The Battle of Waterloo was fought in 1815 between Napolean Forces and the allied army of
Prussia, UK and Netherlands. In this battle, Napolean was defeated.

52. What was a Manor?

Manor was an estate consisting of the lord's lands and his mansion.

53. When had France become a Republic?

The newly elected assembly was called the Convention. On 21st Sep. 1792, it abolished the
monarchy and declared France a republic.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What was the system of voting in the Estates General? What changes did the Third
Estate want in this

system?

a) Voting in the Estates General had been conducted from the past. According to the
principle, each estate had one vote.
b) Members of the Third Estate demanded that voting must to be conducted by the
assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.
c) However, their demand was denied that made them to initiate protests.

2. Describe the incidents that led to the storming of the Bastille.

a) National Assembly was busy in drafting a constitution at Versailles while the rest of
France was disturbed with the agitations and protests.
b) Due to the severe winter there was bad harvest which resulted in the increased prices
of bread. Bakers exploited the situation and hoarded supplies.
c) After spending hours in long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormed
into the shops.
d) At the same time, the rumour spread that the king ordered troops to move into Paris.
Anticipating the attack by king’s troops, the agitated crowd stormed and destroyed
Bastille on 14th July, 1789.

3. What were ‘natural and inalienable rights’?

 a) Rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality
before the law were established as ‘natural and inalienable rights’, i.e., they belonged
to each human being by birth and could not be taken away.
b) It was the duty of the state to protect each citizen’s natural right.

4. Who formed the National Assembly? On which date is ‘Bastille Day’ celebrated and
why?

a) The representatives of the Third Estate assembled at Versailles on 20th June, 1789
and declared themselves a National Assembly.
b) The Bastille Day is celebrated on 14th July every year because on this day the unruly
Paris mob stormed and attacked the prison of Bastille which was considered a symbol
of terror and dictatorship.

5. What is the importance of the document 'Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen'?

OR

Why 'Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen' is considered as a revolutionary

document in French revolution?

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is regarded as a revolutionary document

because:

(i) It abolished the privileges and power given to the French feudal classes i.e. First Estate
and Second Estate.

(ii) It provided equal distribution of the burdens of taxation and rights to public property
among all citizens.

(iii) The Declaration emphasized equality before law and freedom of speech and press. Every
citizen has right to speak, print and express.

6. What was the important aim of setting up Directory? What was the final outcome of
appointing the Directory?

a) After the fall of the Jacobin government, the two elected legislative Council appointed
an executive of five members called Directory.
b) The main objective of the directory was to work as a safeguard against the
concentration of power in the hands of one-man as under the Jacobins.
c) However, the Directors often clashed with the legislative councils, who then sought to
dismiss them.
d) The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of a military
dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte.
7. Who were allowed to vote for the formation of the National Assembly?

a) Only men above 25 years of age and those who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a
labourers wage were given the status of active citizens. And they were entitled to
vote.
b) The remaining men and women were classified as passive citizens and were not
allowed to vote.
c) To qualify as an elector and then as a member of the assembly, a man had to belong to
the highest bracket of taxpayers.

8. What was Rousseau's concept about the state?

a) Rousseau, a thinker and a French philosopher, is regarded as an inspiration behind the

French Revolution.
b) He carried the idea of Locke forward, proposing a form of government based on a
social contract between people and their representatives.
c) According to him, the society creates a Political state for a stable life. If the state
failed to abide by the terms of the contract, people have natural and moral rights to
overthrow the state authority.

9. How did women suffer in France?

a) Most of the women had to work for a living. They worked as laundresses or
seamstresses sold flowers, fruits and vegetables or were employed as domestic
servants.
b) They could not get education or job training. Working women had also to take care of
their families, that is cook, fetch water, queue up for bread and look after children.
c) Their wages were also lower than men.
10. What happened after the fall of Robespierre’s government?

OR

Write a short note on the Directory.

a) After the fall of Jacobins, a new Constitution was formed which denied the right to
vote to non-propertied men.
b) It provided two elected legislative Councils, who appointed a Directory, an executive
body made up of five members.
c) Directory was formed to prevent the concentration of power in a one man executive as
under the Jacobins.
d) However, the directors often clashed with the legislative councils and were finally
dismissed. With this, political instability emerged in France which gave rise to a
military dictator “Napoleon Bonaparte”.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in
France. (Also in NCERT Textbook)

The outbreak of revolutionary protest in France was a culmination of social, political,

economic and intellectual factors:

(i) Social Causes or Social Conditions: French society was divided into privileged (Clergy
and Nobility) and non-privileged sections (Third Estate). Clergy and Nobility were exempt
from payment of state taxes.

The third estate consisted of the lower and middle classes who bore the burden of taxes.
Besides, they did not have any political rights and social status which caused a feeling of
resentment in them from privileged sections.

(ii) Political Causes: Louis XVI, the king of France was an autocratic, inefficient ruler who
led a luxurious life with his queen Marie Antoinette. People of France became tired of this
system of administration and wanted a change.

(iii) Economic Causes: The treasury of the king was empty on account of long wars,
involvement in the American War of Independence, luxurious living of the king and faulty
system of taxation.

(iv) Intellectual Causes Philosophers like Rousseau, Voltaire and Montesquieu played a
significant role. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and
coffee-houses and spread among people through books and newspapers.

(v) Immediate causes- Forced by financial bankruptcy, Louis XVI was compelled to call an
assembly of the Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes in 1789. This time, voting
method was not accepted by the third estate. They demanded each member should have one
vote. This controversy led to agitation among the people which became the immediate cause
of the French Revolution.

2. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the
19th and 20th centuries.

The legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries was as follows:

(i) Ideas of equality and democratic spread from France to other European countries and
feudalism was abolished;

(ii) Colonial people reworked the idea of freedom from bondage into their movements to
create sovereign nation states;

(iii) It was the first movement to adopt the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity;
(iv) The declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen gave rights such as right to life,
freedom of speech, equality before law, etc.;

(v) Women were given many rights. They could not be forced to marry against their will,
divorce was made legal, schooling was made compulsory and they could train for jobs.

3. What was the impact of the French Revolution in France?

The impact of the French Revolution in France can be summarized as:

(i) End of Monarchy: It marked the end of absolute monarchy and paved way for a republic
government.

(ii) Laid the foundation of Democratic Principles: It upheld the theory of sovereignty and laid
the foundation of the democratic principles i.e. government decisions should be based on the
consent of her citizens.

(iii) Ideas of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity: The slogans of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity
became the founding milestones for a democratic nation.

(iv) Declaration of Rights and Equality: The declaration provided equality among the citizens
for all public offices, freedom of speech and expression was granted and freedom from arrest
without a proven cause was implemented.

(v) Abolition of Censorship: Mass media was allowed Freedom of the press was granted.

(vi) Taxes to be paid by all: Taxes would be borne by all the people irrespective of their
status.

(vii) Religious Freedom: It guaranteed the free exercise of religious worship and abolished
the taxes collected by the churches.

(viii) Reforms and New Initiatives: New initiatives and reforms were carried out in education,
administration and judiciary domain.

4. Explain 'Reign of Terror'.

OR
Describe the causes for the fall of Jacobin government in France.

The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the 'Reign of Terror' because during this time,
Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment. During this period,

(i) All of those whom he considered being enemies of the Republic (e.g. nobles, clergy,
members of other political parties) were arrested. They were arrested and more than 15,000
persons including Queen of France were guillotined;

(ii) Meat and bread were rationed;

(iii) Peasants were forced to sell their grains at the prices fixed by the government.

(iv) Use of expensive white flour was forbidden and all citizens were forced to eat the
equality bread i.e., a loaf made of whole wheat.

(v) Churches were shut down and their buildings were converted into barracks or offices.

Finally, Robespierre was convicted and guillotined in July, 1794 and the Reign of Terror
ended with his death.

5. What role did women of France of the third Estate play in French revolution?

a) Women of the third estate of France played a crucial role in the revolution: During
Revolutionary years, women started their own political clubs and newspapers.
b) They set up about sixty women clubs in different cities of France.
c) The most famous among them was the Society of Revolutionary and Republican
Women.
d) They also demanded to enjoy the same political rights as men, i.e., right to vote, to be
elected to the Assembly and to hold political office.
e) However, the women were disappointed because they were not given same political
rights as enjoyed by the men of France.

6. Explain how did the freedom of speech and expression under the revolutionary
government in France promote the ideals of Liberty and Equality into everyday
practice.

(i) The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen emphasized that freedom of speech and
expression be established as established as ‘natural and inalienable’ right;

(ii) The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffeehouses
and spread among people through books and newspapers;
(iii) Newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures flooded the towns of France from
where they travelled rapidly into the countryside;

(iv) Freedom of the press also meant that opposing views of events could be expressed;

(v) Plays, songs and festive processions attracted large numbers of illiterate people to help
them grasp and identify with ideas such as liberty or justice that political philosophers wrote
about.

7. How was slavery abolished in France?

OR

Explain the process of slavery abolition in France.

a) One of the most revolutionary social reforms of the Jacobin regime was responsible
for the abolition of slavery.
b) An acute shortage of labour in the French Caribbean colonies, Martinique,
Guadeloupe and San Domingo, led to a triangular slave trade between Europe, Africa
and America in the 17th century.
c) The National Assembly held long debates and finally, the Convention in 1794 passed
laws freeing slaves in the French overseas possessions but it was last for a short
period.
d) After ten years, slavery was reintroduced by Napoleon and it was finally abolished in
1848.

8. What was the role of French philosophers and revolutionary thinkers in the French
Revolution?

The 18th century witnessed the emergence of revolutionary thinkers such as John Locke, Jean
Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu.

They didn't play an active role in the events of the revolution but their ideas inspired the
revolutionary movement.

Their revolutionary ideas encouraged people to fight for their rights.

(i) Voltaire's ideas revolved around individual liberties and he believed that man’s destiny is
in his own hands;

(ii) John Locke criticised the divine and absolute rights of the rulers;

(iii) Rousseau put forward the idea of formation of a government based on a social contract
between people and their representatives. Men had the right to change their government, if
they were not satisfied with it;
(iv) Montesquieu believed that all powers should not be concentrated in one person's hand.
They should be divided between the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary.

The ideas of these philosophers were discussed and debated in salons and coffee houses and
spread among people through books and newspapers. This founded the way to the revolution
of 1789.

9. What was The Great Fear of French revolution?

After the storming of the Bastille, the National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a
constitution, the rest of France was disturbed with the agitations and protests.

(i) In the countryside rumours spread from village to village that the royalists of the Manor
had hired bands of brigands who were on their way to destroy the ripe crops;

(ii) Rumours also spread that King’s men were planning to kill National assembly
representatives;

(iii) Peasants feared of killing seized hoes and pitchforks and attacked chateaux in several
districts. They looted hoarded grain and burnt down documents containing records of
manorial dues.

(iv) A large number of nobles fled from their homes, many of them migrated to neighbouring
countries.

This turmoil at that time is termed as The Great Fear.

10. What is the significance of The Tennis Court Oath' in the French Revolution?

a) The representatives of the third estate viewed themselves as spokesmen for the whole
French nation.
b) They assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of Versailles on
20th June, 1789.
 c) They declared themselves as a National Assembly and decided not to disperse until
they had drafted a constitution for France which would curtail the power of the
monarch.
d) Mirabeau and Abb'e Sieye's were the prominent leaders of National Assembly while
the National Assembly was busy at Versailles, drafting a constitution. Bastille was
stormed and peasants revolt spread in the countryside.
11. How was slave trade started? When and how was it abolished?

OR

Prepare a short note on 'Slave Trade'.

a) There was a shortage of labour at the plantation. So, Europeans solved this problem
by a triangular slave trade between Europe, Africa and America.
b) Slave trade began in the 17th century when French merchants sailed to the African
coast to buy slaves from their local chieftains. The slaves were packed in the ships for
a three month voyage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.
c) There, they were sold to plantation owners. Exploitation of slave labour made it
possible to meet the growing demand in European markets for sugar, indigo and
coffee.
d) In France, the National Assembly held long discussions to provide rights to all the
people living in France but it did not pass any law.
e) Ultimately, in 1794 the 'Convention' passed a law to free all the slaves in the French
colonies but this was a short-term measure as later, Napoleon Bonaparte reintroduced
slavery.

12. How did the French people ultimately get the right to vote for all citizens?

a) In the summer of 1792, the Jacobins planned an insurrection of a large number of

Parisians who were angered by the short supply and high prices of food.
b) On the morning of August 10, they stormed the palace of Tuileries, massacred the
king's guards and held the king hostage for several hours.
c) Later the Assembly voted to imprison the royal family. Elections were held and from
then, all men of 21 years and above regardless of wealth, got the right to vote.

PLEASE NOTE:-
THE NOTES PROVIDED FOR EACH OF THE LESSON IS ONLY AN ADDITIONAL LEARNING MATERIAL, IT
IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE ONLY EXMINATION TRAINING MATERIAL ( While preparing for
any test papers or examinations have a holistic approach, that is, refer from-class notes, lecture
points, class activities, TEXTBOOK, revision study etc..)

Assignment Questions:- [TO BE SUBMITTED IN NOTEBOOK]

1. Who was the ruler of France during the revolution?

2. Name the three ‘Estates’ into which the French society was divided before the Revolution.
3. When did the French Revolution occur?
4. To whom was the taxes called Tithes payable by the peasants in the eighteenth century
France?
5. Which philosopher had forwarded the principle of voting by the assembly as a whole,
where each member should have one vote, during the rule of louis XVI?
6. What was the theme of the book ‘The Spirit of the Laws’ written by Montesquieu?
Compare the political rights which the Constitution of 1791 gave to the citizens with
Articles 1 and 6 of the declaration (Source C). Are the two documents consistent? Do the
two documents convey the same idea?

7. Which groups of French society would have gained from the Constitution of 1791? Which
groups would have had reason to be dissatisfied? What developments does Marat (Source
B) anticipate in the future?

8. How did France become Constitutional Monarchy?

9. What incidents led to abolishing of Constitutional Monarchy and France becoming a

republic?

10. Who were Abbé Sieyès and Mirabeau? What was their role in France?

11. Describe the circumstance leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.
12. Explain the system of estate in France during the 12th century.
13. Give the reasons for empty treasury during 1789.
14. What measures were taken to find resources for increasing the revenue?
15. How did France become Constitutional Monarchy?
16. Who were the important political philosophers who inspired the people of France to revolt
against despotic rule of Louis XVI?
17. What incidents led to abolishing of Constitutional Monarchy and France becoming a
republic?
18. Discuss the period of Reign of Terror.
19. Explain the directory rule in France.
20. Elucidate on the legacy of French Revolution.
21. Write a brief note on abolishment of slavery in France.
22. Discuss the causes of French Revolution.
23. “Ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French
Revolution”. Explain the statement in the light of French Revolution.
24. Describe the status of the nobles in France before the revolution.
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