2025 - IX - Chapter 1 History.pdf THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

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Dr. TK, APMSJ, Ramapuram [email protected]

CLASS - IX
SOCIAL STUDIES – HISTORY








Dr. K. THULASI KRISHNA, Ph.D.
PGT – COMMERCE
A.P. MODEL SCHOOL & JUNIOR COLLEGE, RAMAPURAM
ANNAMAYYA – Dist., A.P., INDIA

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Dr. TK, APMSJ, Ramapuram [email protected]
CHAPTER 1
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Key Words
Divine Rights: The rights that are provided by the God are called divine rights.
Aristocracy: It is a class of people in some countries who have a high social rank and special
titles.
Monarchy: It is a political system in which all powers are concentrated in the hands of one
single person.
Livres: Unit of currency in France till 1794.
Tithes: A tax levied by the church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.
Taille: Tax to be paid directly to the state.
Nobles: Rich landlords, king’s family members.
Manor: An estate consisting of the lord’s lands and his residence.
Chateau: Castle (fort) or stately residence belonging to a king or a nobleman.
Convent: A building belonging to a community devoted to a religious life.
National Assembly: An elected legislature in France during the first part of the revolution
broke out during 1789-91.
Clergy: Group of persons invested with special functions in the Church. Members of the
Church.
Guillotine: A device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person can be
beheaded.

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Very Short Answer Questions
1. How many Estates were there in France and what were they?
Ans. There were 3 Estates in France namely, I Estate, II Estate and III Estate.
Estate Composition
I Estate Clergy = Group of persons invested with special functions in the Church.
II Estate Nobility = Rich landlords and King’s family members
III Estate Big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, artisans, etc.

2. Who were the 3 categories of people in III Estate in France?
Ans. In first category, there were big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, in
second category, there were peasants and artisans, and in the third category, there were
small peasants, landless labourers and servants.
3. Which groups of French Society benefitted from the revolution and which groups
were disappointed with the outcome of the revolution? Which groups were forced
to relinquish (surrender) power?

Ans: The third estate, that is, landless labour, small peasants and middle-class people were
benefitted as their rights were recognized. The privileges enjoyed by the members of the
first two estates were abolished. Hence, the clergy and the aristocracy were disappointed
with the outcome of the revolution. The first estate was forced to surrender the power.
4. What do you understand by middle-class? How did they emerge in Europe?
Ans. Within the third estate, a group of people had access to education and new ideas and
became prosperous. They earned wealth through expanding means of foreign trade and
from the manufacture of goods such as woolen and silk textiles. This new social group was
collectively termed as middle class.
5. What would happen if all people were not equal before law?
Ans. If all the people are not equal then the society might be divided into classes. A few
classes might have some privileges and the rest would have to suffer. People might not have
fundamental rights and a few other would enjoy the privileges. Hence, all people must be
equal before the law.
6. Do you feel that equality of status for women is necessary? Do you agree with the
statement - Women’s fight for rights in France inspired the world?

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Ans. Yes. Women need to have equal status with men. They need to educate themselves
and participate in active politics.
Yes, the political activities of French women during the revolutionary years were kept
alive as an inspiring memory.
7. Who were called as Active Citizens and Passive Citizens?
Ans. Men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer’s wage
were called active citizens. The remaining men and women were called as passive citizens.
8. What do you mean by a directory?
Ans. A directory It was an executive body made up of 5 members. They were appointed by
elected legislative councils.
9. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced
to the French Revolution.
Ans: We can trace the origin of the following democratic rights we enjoy today to the
French revolution:
• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom
• Freedom of Speech and expression
• Right against exploitations
• Right to justice

Essay Questions
1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in
France.
Ans: The French Revolution has laid the foundation for democracy and human rights. The
following are the circumstances that led to the outbreak of the French Revolution:
a. Social Causes: The French society was divided into three estates. The members of
the first two estates, that is, the clergy and the aristocracy, enjoyed certain privileges
and were exempted from paying taxes. The burden of taxes was borne by the third
estate alone. This problem was increased by failure of crops.

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b. Political Causes: In 1774, Louis XVI ascended the throne of France. The influence of
first and second estates was more on his administration.
c. Growth of Middle Class: The 18
th
Century witnessed the emergence of new social
groups called the middle class. This group of the 3
rd
estate became powerful due to
their access to education, business, and new ideas. They believed that no group in the
society should be privileged by birth.
d. Intellectual Causes: The third estate was influenced by the philosophical thoughts
of Locke, Rousseau, etc.
e. Summoning of Estate General: Long years of war drained the financial resources of
France. To increase the taxes to meet the expenses, in 1789, summoned the Estates
General. This was the immediate cause of the French Revolution.

2. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Ans. The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French
Revolution. These spread from France to the rest of Europe during the nineteenth century,
where feudal systems were abolished. It inspired the Germans, Italians, and Austrians to
overthrow their oppressive regimes. The French Revolution inspired the struggling nations
of Asia and Africa who were feeling pain under the domination of European colonialism. Tipu
Sultan and Rajaram Mohan Roy are two examples of individuals who responded to ideas
coming from the French revolution.
3. How would you explain the raise of Napoleon?
Ans.
• Napoleon Bonaparte saw his role as a moderniser of Europe.
• He crowned himself as Emperor of France in 1804.
• Kingdoms were created where his family members were placed.
• He provided a uniform system of measures and weights.
• He used a decimal system.
• Protection of private property was one of the many laws introduced by Napoleon.

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• In the beginning, many people viewed Napoleon as a ruler who would liberate them and
give them freedom.
• Napoleon conquered neighbouring European countries.
• Later on, the army of Napoleon was seen as an invading force.
• In 1815, Napoleon was defeated at the battle of Waterloo.
4. Describe the ‘Reign of Terror’?
Ans.
• The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the ‘Reign of Terror’.
• Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
• He arrested and imprisoned all those whom he felt enemies such as clergy members,
other political party members, who did not agree to his methods, etc.
• He issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and prices. Meat and bread were
rationed.
• Peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at prices fixed by
the government.
• The use of expensive white flour was forbidden.
• Churches were shut down and their buildings were converted into barracks or offices.
Finally, he was convicted by the Court in July 1794, arrested and on the next day sent to the
guillotine.
5. How do you understand women’s role in French Revolution?
Ans: Women played an important role in French Revolution.
• From the beginning, women were active participants in French Society.
• They expected the Government to introduce measures to improve their lives.
• Most women of the Third Estate had to work for a living as seamstresses (sewing),
laundresses (washing), sold flowers, fruits, and vegetables in the market. A few of
them employed as domestic servants in the souses of prosperous people.
• Most women did not have access to education or job training.
• To discuss and voice their interests, women started their own political clubs and
newspapers.

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• About 60 women clubs came up in different French cities.
• One of their main demands was that women enjoy the same political rights as men.
They also demanded right to vote, to be elected to the Assembly.
• During the Reign of Terror, the new government ordered for the closure of women’s
clubs. Many women were arrested and executed.
• It was finally in 1946 that women in France won the right to vote.

Fill up the blanks
1. King of France during the French Revolution was Louis XVI.
2. Louis XVI ascended the throne of Frane in 1774.
3. Name the book written by John Locke in French Revolution was ‘Two Treatises of
Government’.
4. The book written by Baron de Montesquieu was ‘Spirit of Law’.
5. The book written by Jean Jacques Rousseau was ‘Social Contract’.
6. The leader of the Jacobin club in France was Maximilien Robespierre.
7. The National Anthem of France is ‘La Marseillaise’.
8. The National Anthem of France was composed in the year 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget
de Lisle.
9. A triangular trade took place between Europe, America and Africa.
10. The women in France won the Right to Vote in 1946.
11. Napoleon Bonaparte was considered the modernizer of Europe.
12. Napoleon Bonaparte declare himself as the Emperor of France in the year 1804.
13. Slavery was abolished finally in France in the year 1848.
14. Louis XVI belonged to Bourbon dynasty.
15. The most important legacy of the French Revolution was the ideas of liberty and
democratic rights.
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