History: Chapter 1

French Revolution

Dear kiddos,

1. First, the TITLE of the chapter.

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES of the chapter.
• To familiarize students with the names of people involved, the different types of ideas
that inspired the revolution, the wider forces that shaped it.
• To show how written, oral and visual material can be used to recover the history of
revolutions.
3. Next MY IDENTITY:
Research and present how the ideals of the French Revolution (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) are
reflected in the formation and development of the UAE after 1971.

4. Next CROSS CURRICULAR TASK.

Prepare a short biography on one of the revolutionaries involved in French Revolution.

5. Next CHALLENGING TASK

Write a short paragraph describing how freedom of speech and expression promotes liberty and
equality, using real-life examples to support your points.

6. Art Integration:
"Design a Revolutionary Poster that promotes the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity,
just like the pamphlets and posters during the French Revolution.
Your poster must include:
• A powerful slogan related to freedom, equality, or brotherhood.
• At least two symbols such as the tricolor flag, liberty cap, broken chains, or the figure
of Liberty.
• Creative artwork that reflects the spirit of the revolution.

Be bold, colorful, and expressive — your poster should inspire people to believe in the ideals of
the Revolution!"
7. Worksheet:
1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France?
• Ans.Louis XVI was an autocratic ruler.
• When he ascended the throne, the royal treasury was empty. Long years of war had
drained the financial resources of France.
• Under Louis XVI France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their
independence from Britain the war added more than a billion livres to a dept credit, now began to
charge 10% interest on loan.
• The state finally increased taxes to meet its regular expenses.
 • The French society was divided into three estates but only the first two estates were
exempted to pay taxes. Thus, the burden of financing activities of the state through taxes was
borne by the third estate only.
• The middle class that emerged in the 18th century was educated and enlightened. They
refuted the theory of divine rights of the kings and absolute monarchy. They had access to the
various ideas of equality and freedom proposed by the philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques
Rousseau, etc. their ideas got popularized among the common mass as a result of intensive
discussions and debates in saloons and coffee houses and through books and newspapers.
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. The wealthy class of the third estate which came to be known as the new middle
class of France benefited the most from the revolution. Previously, these people had to pay state
taxes and they did not enjoy equal status. But after the revolution they began to be treated equally
with the upper sections of the society.
• With the abolition of feudal system of obligation and taxes, the clergy and the nobility
came on the same level with the middle class. They were forced to give up their privileges. Their
executive powers were also taken away from them.
• The poorer sections of the society, i.e., small peasants, daily wage earners would have
been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution. Women also would have been highly
discontented.
3. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the
nineteenth and the twentieth centuries.
• Ans. The ideas and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French
Revolution an umpiring force for the political movements in the world.
• The ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity spread from France to the rest of Europe,
where feudal system was finally abolished.
• Colonized people reworked on the idea of freedom from bondage into their movements
to create a sovereign nation state.
• The idea of Nationalism that emerged after the French Revolution started mass
movements all over the world.
• The impact of the French Revolution would be seen in India too. Tipu Sultan and Raja
Rammohan Roy got deeply influenced by the idea of the revolution.
4. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to
the French Revolution.
• Ans. Right to equality including equality before law, prohibition of discrimination and
equality of opportunity in matters of employment.
• Right to freedom of speech and expression including right to practice any profession or
occupation.
• Right against exploitation.
• Right to life.
• Right to vote.
5. Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset with
contradictions? Explain.
 • Ans. The message of universal rights was definitely beset with contradictions. Many
ideals of the “Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen” were not at all clear.
• The French Revolution could not bring economic equality and it is the fact that unless
there is economic equality, real equality cannot be received at any sphere. The Declaration of
Rights of Man and Citizen laid stress on equality but large section of the society was denied to it.
The right to vote and elect their representatives did not solve the poor man’s problem.
• Women did not have any political rights such as right to vote and hold political offices
like men.
• France continued to hold and expand colonies. Thus, its image as a liberator could not
last for a long time.
• Slavery existed in France till the first half of the 19th century.
6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?
• Ans. The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of Napoleon
Bonaparte Napoleon had achieved glorious victories in wars. This made France realize that only a
military dictator like Napoleon would restore a stable government.
• In 1804, he crowned himself the emperor of France. He set out to conquer neighboring
European countries, dispossessing dynasties and creating kingdom where he placed members of his
family. Napoleon viewed himself as a modernizer of Europe. He introduced many laws such as the
protection of private property and a uniform system of weight and measures provided by the
decimal system.
• But his rise to power did not last for a long time. He was finally defeated at Waterloo in
1815.

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