CHAPTER-1 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

EXTRA QUESTIONS

Q1. When and where did the French Revolution break out?
Ans. The French Revolution broke out on 14th July,1789 by an attack on the fortress prison- the Bastille.
Q2. Explain the causes of the French Revolution.
Ans. Following are the causes of the French Revolution:
1. Despotic rule of King Louis XVI
● In 1774, Louis XVI of Bourbon family of Kings became the King of France.
● Long years of war drained financial resources. Also, there was the added cost of maintaining extravagant
court.
● War added more than a billion livres to 2 billion livres debt. Lenders now charged 10% interest on loans.
French govt. spent more on interest payment.
● Taxes were increased to meet its regular expenses on cost of maintaining army, the court, running govt.
offices or universities

2. Division of French Society

● Peasants form 90% of the population in France.
● 60% land was owned by nobles, the church and the members of the third estate.
● Members of first two estates (clergy and nobility), enjoyed privileges, were exempted from taxes and
enjoyed privileges by birth.
● Church collected taxes like tithe from the peasants, other taxes like direct tax (taille) and indirect taxes on
salt and tobacco
● The burden of financing activities of the state was borne by the third estate alone

3. Rising Prices
● The population of France increased which in turn increased the demand for food grain.
● Price of bread rose rapidly.
● Wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices.
● Gap between poor and rich widened.
● All this led to subsistence crisis.

4. Role of Middle Class

● Middle class emerged in the 18th century and included merchants and professionals like lawyers,
administrative officials.
● They were educated and did not believe in social inequality.
● They believed that a person’s social position depend on his merit.

5. Inspiration of Philosophers
● Philosophers like John Locke , Jean Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu, put forward the ideas of a
society based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities for all.
● Ideas of these philosophers were discussed in salons, coffee houses and spread among people through
books.

Q3. Describe the incidents which led to the French Revolution.

Ans. Following are the incidents leading to the French Revolution:
1. Meeting of Estates General
● Louis XVI had to increase taxes and the Monarch did not have the power to impose taxes according to his
will alone.
● He had to call a meeting of Estates General to pass proposals.
● On 5th May 1789, Louis XVI called a meeting with Estates General in a resplendent hall in Versailles.

2. Representation of National Assembly

● Peasants, artisans and women were not allowed to enter but their grievances in about 40,000 letters
reached them.
● Members of 3rd Estate demanded one vote for each member.
● King rejected the proposal, so members of 3rd estate walked out of the assembly in protest.

3. Meet of National Assembly

● On 20th June 1789, the representatives of 3rd estate assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the
ground of Versailles.
● They declared themselves as National Assembly.
● They drafted a constitution for France that would limit the powers of monarch.
● They were led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes

4. Socio-economic Condition of France

● A severe winter and bad harvest led to rise in bread prices. Supplies were hoarded.
● After spending hours in long queues, crowds of angry women stormed into the shops.
● King ordered troops to move into the shops.

On 14th July 1789, agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille.

Q4. Describe all the political symbols of the French Revolution.

● Ans. 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.

Q5. What is Marseillaise?

Ans. Among patriotic songs they sang was ‘Marseillaise’ as the volunteers from Marseilles marched into
Paris. The Marseillaise is now the national anthem of France.

Q6. Who were active and passive citizens?

Ans. Active citizens were entitled to vote. They were about 4 million of a population of 28 million.
Passive citizens had no voting rights. They were about 3 million men and 21 million women, children and
youth below 25 years.

Q7. Who were Jacobins? Who was their leader?

Ans. Jacobins were the members of Jacobin Club.
Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.

Q8. Describe the Jacobin club and its members.

Ans. The members of Jacobin Club belonged to less prosperous section of society.
● It included small shopkeepers, artisans, servants and daily wage workers.
● Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.
● Jacobins decided to wear long striped trousers similar to those of dock workers.
● This was to set themselves apart from nobles who wore knee breeches.
● These Jacobins came to be known as ‘Sans-Culottes’ meaning those without knee breeches.
● These men also wore a red cap symbolizing liberty.
Q9. How did monarchy end in France?
Ans. On 21st September 1792, Convention abolished monarchy and declared France a republic.
● Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on the charge of treason.
● On 21st January 1793, he was executed publicly at the Place de la Concorde.
● Queen Marie Antoinette was also executed shortly.
● This brought an end to monarchy.

Q10. Describe the ‘Reign of Terror’.

Ans. In France, between 1793-94 was the ‘Reign of Terror’.
● Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
● Enemies of republic were ex-nobles, clergy, members of other political parties, members of his own party
who did not support him.
● They were arrested, imprisoned and tried by revolutionary tribunal.
● If court found them guilty, they were guillotined.
● He placed maximum ceiling on wages and prices.
● Meat and bread were rationed.
● Use of more expensive white flour prohibited.
● All citizens required to eat equality bread (whole wheat).
● Instead of traditional Monsieur and Madame, all French men and women were called Citoyen and
Citoyenne respectively.
● In July 1794, Robespierre was convicted by court and guillotined.

Q11. What was Guillotine?

Ans. Guillotine was invented by Dr.Guillotin. It is a device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a
person is beheaded.

Q12. What were the sufferings of women in France in the eighteenth century?
Ans. Sufferings of Women
● Most of the women had to work for living. They worked as seamstresses or laundresses, sold flowers,
fruits and vegetables and were employed as domestic servants.
● They did not have access to education.
● Only daughters of nobles could study at convent and their marriages were arranged.
● Working women had to take care of families, cook, wash, look after children.
● Wages were lower than men.

Q13. What were the new laws for the women in France?
Ans. Laws for Women
● Schooling was made compulsory for all girls.
● They were no longer forced to marry against their will.
● Divorce was made legal.
● Women could train for jobs.
● Women could become artists or run small business.

Q14. When did women in France win the right to vote?

Ans. In 1946, women in France won the right to vote.

Q15. How did slavery end in France?

Ans. Throughout the 18th century, little criticism of slavery prevailed.
● National Assembly held long debates.
● In 1794, the Convention legislated to free all slaves.
● Most revolutionary social reform of Jacobin regime was abolition of slavery in the French colonies.
● However, ten years later Napoleon reintroduced slavery.
● Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848.

Q16. Name the port cities of France where slave trade took place.
Ans. Bordeaux and Nantes

Q17. When did slavery finally end in French colonies?

Ans. In 1848, slavery finally ended in French colonies.