NCERT Solutions for Class 9th: The French Revolution History Social Studies (s.st) Page No: 24 Questions 1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France. Answer The circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France were: = Social Inequality: French society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates namely The Clergy, The nobility and third estates. First two estates, that is, the clergy and the nobility enjoyed certain privileges by birth. They were exempt from paying taxes. The Third estate comprises of businessmen, merchants, Peasants and artisans, labours had to pay taxes to the state. > Political Causes: Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. France had a debt of more than 2 billion livres. To meet itsregular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase taxes which angered the people. — Economic Problems: The population of France also increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. Food grains were now in great demand. The price of bread shot up. Wages did not keep pace with rising prices. This led to subsistence crisis. — Strong Middle Class: A new middle class emerged educated and wealthy during the eighteenth century. They believed that no group in society should be given privileges by birth. Ideas of equality and freedom were put forward by philosophers. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee houses and spread among people. — Immediate Causes: On 5 may, 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes. Third estates protested against this proposal but as eachprotested against this proposal but as each estate have one vote, the king rejected this appeal. They walked out of the assembly. 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?Answer It was the richer members of the third estate who mostly benefited from the French Revolution. The clergy and the nobility were forced to relinquish (surrender) their power. The poor class of third estate and women would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution as the promise of equality, discussed during the revolution was not given. The poorer classes had no right to vote.3. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Answer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 groaning under the oppression of European colonialism. Tipu Sultan and Rajaram Mohan Roy are two examples of individuals who responded to ideas coming from French revolution. 4. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution. Answer We can trace the origin of the following democratic rights we enjoy today to the French revolution: = Right to Equality before law — Freedom of Speech and expression = Right against exploitation — Right to justice5. Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions? Explain. Answer Yes, the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions: — Law is the expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to participate in its formation, personally or through their representatives. - In this line, it is stated that every citizen has the right to participate in the law however only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer’s wage were given voting right. The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens and were deprived of voting rights. Hence, the message of universal rights was not very clear. The Constitution is only available for the rich. Women were totally neglected in decision making. 6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon? Answer6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon? Answer After Robespierre's rule came to an enda directory was formed to avoid concentration of power in one individual. Members of the directory often fought among themselves leading to total chaos and political instability. This created a political vacuum in France. This was a conducive situation and Napoleon Bonaparte took the reign of power as a military dictator. Napoleon saw his role as a moderniser of Europe. He introduced many laws such as the protection of private property and a uniform system of weights and measures provided by the decimal system.Extra Questions for Class 10th: Ch1 French Revolution Social Studies (S.St) Important Questions Answer Included Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs): 1. When did the French Revolution begin? Answer The French Revolution began on 14th July 1789 with the storming of Bastille fortress prison. (Para - 1, Page No. - 3) 2. Which ruler came to power in France in 1774? Answer Louis XVI of Bourbon family came to power in France in 1774. (Para — 1, Page No. 4) 3. Whom did Louis XVI get married to?Answer Louis XVI get married the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette. (Para -1, Page No. 4) 4. Which classes formed the privileged estates? Answer The clergy and the nobility classes formed the privileged estates. (Para - 3, Page No. 4) 5. Which estate of French society paid all taxes? Answer Third estate of French society paid all taxes. (Para - 3, Page No. 4) 6. Which was treasury empty when Louis XVI ascended the throne?Answer Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France therefore, Louis XVI found an empty treasury when he ascended the throne. (Para — 1, Page No. 4) 7. What was the name of direct tax collected by the state from the peasants in the 18th Century of France? Answer Tax named Taille was collected by the state from the peasants in the 18th Century of France. (Para — 4, Page No. 4) 8. What was ‘tithe’? Answer Tithe was a tax levied by the church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.9. What do you mean by ‘Subsistence Crisis’? Answer Subsistence crisis is an extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered. (New Words, Page No. 5) 10. Which social group emerged in the 18th Century in France? Answer In the 18th Century, social group termed as middle class emerged in France. (Para - 2, Page No. 6) Short Answer Questions (SAQs): 1. Describe the division of French society before French revolution? Answer Before French revolution, French society was divided into three Estates: (i) First Estate (Clergy): It comprised of personswho were involved in the functions of church. They were exempted from paying taxes and enjoyed certain privileges by birth. (ii) Second Estate (Nobility): It comprised those persons who had high social and political rank. They enjoyed certain privileges based on birth and also exempted from paying taxes. They also enjoyed feudal privileges. They extract feudal dues from the peasants. (iii) Third Estate: It comprises of big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, artisans, small peasants, landless labourers and servants. They pay direct tax to state called taille and a number of indirect taxes, levied on articles of everyday consumption. Peasants also pay called tithes to church. (Source of Answer: Para - 3 and 4, Fig. 2, Page No. 4) 2. How did the political system work in FranceAnswer (i) The Constitution of 1791 gave the power to make laws in the National Assembly, which was indirectly elected. (ii) Citizens were given the right to vote for an electoral group which in turn, elected the Assembly. (iii) But all the citizens were not given this right. Only those men older than 25 years who paid taxes equal to minimum 3 days of a labourer's wage were given this right. (iv) Rest of the men and women were classed as passive citizens and not given right to vote. (Para — 2, Page No. 10) 3. How was slavery abolished in France? Answer (i) The National Assembly held long debates about whether the rights of man should be extended to all French subjects including those in the colonies but it did not pass any laws, fearing opposition from businessmen whose incomesdepended on the slave trade. (ii) It was finally the Convention which in 1794 legislated to free all slaves in the French overseas possessions. (iii) However, ten years later, Napoleon reintroduced slavery. (iv) Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848. (Para - 2, Page No. 21) 4. Describe the concept of active and passive citizens of France. Answer (i) Active citizens were those who had the right to vote. (ii) 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. (iii) Passive citizens were the remaining men and all women. They had no right to vote. (Para - 2, Page No. 10) 5. What was the importance of the Declaration ofAnswer (i) The Declaration of the Rights of Man did away all the privileges based on the birth which was prevailing in the old regime. (ii) It considered rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law as basic and natural rights that belonged to each human being by birth and could not be taken away. (iii) It was the duty of the state to protect each citizen’s natural rights. (Para —1, Page No. 11) 6. What was the Estates General? Which demand of the Third Estate did Louis XVI reject? Answer The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates i.e, the clergy, the nobility and the third estate sent their representatives. (i) In the past, voting in the Estates General had been conducted according to the principle that each estate had one vote.Mawr (ii) But the third estate demanded that voting now be conducted by the assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.7. Describe briefly the contribution of Mirabeau in the formation of National Assembly. Answer (i) Mirabeau was born in a noble family but was convinced of the need to do away with a society of feudal privilege. (i) On 20 June, representatives of the third estate led by Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyeés, assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of Versailles. (iii) Mirabeau brought out a journal and delivered powerful speeches to the crowds assembled at Versailles.8. How did peasants protest against the feudal lords or nobles in the countryside of France? Answer (i) In the countryside rumours spread from village to village that the lords of the manor had hired people who were on their way to destroy the ripe crops. (ii) Due to fear, peasants in several districts seized hoes and pitchforks and attacked chateaux. (iii) 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 migrating to neighbouring countries. (Para — 3, Page No. 9) Long Answer Questions (LAQs): 1. Explain the impact of French Revolution on France in everyday life of people. Answer (i) In the Old Regime all written material and cultural activities could be published or performed only after they had been approved bythe censors of the king but after the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right. (ii) Newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures flooded the towns of France from where they travelled rapidly into the countryside. (iii) They all described and discussed the events and changes taking place in France. (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 people. (Para - 2, Page No. 22) 2. Why was the reign of Robespierre termed as ‘reign of terror’ despite various reforms introduced by him? Answer (i) Robespierre’s government adopted various reforms such as maximum ceiling on wages andprices, rationed meat and bread, fixed prices of grains, made whole-wheat bread compulsory for all and converted buildings of churches into barracks or offices. (ii) However, his period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Reign of Terror because Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment. (iii) All those whom he saw as being ‘enemies’ of the republic — ex-nobles and clergy, members of other political parties, even members of his own party who did not agree with his methods — were arrested, imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary tribunal. (iv) If the court found them ‘guilty’ they were guillotined. (v) Robespierre pursued his policies so relentlessly that even his supporters began to demand moderation.3. What measures were taken by the Robespierre to bring about equality in the French society? Answer (i) Robespierre’s government issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on wages and prices. (ii) Meat and bread were rationed. (iii) Peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at prices fixed by the government. (iv) The use of more expensive white flour was forbidden and all citizens were required to eat a loaf made of wholewhect. (v) Instead of the traditional Monsieur (Sir) and Madame (Madam) all French men and women were henceforth Citoyen and Citoyenne (Citizen). (vi) Churches were shut down and their buildings converted into barracks or offices. (Para — 2, Page No. 16) 4. Explain the role of philosophers in the French Revolution.Answer (i) The philosophers presented idea of a society based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities for alll. (ii) John Locke in his book ‘Two Treatises of Government, sought to refute the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch. (iii) Rousseau carried the idea forward, proposing a form of government based on a social contract between people and their representatives. (iv) In ‘The Spirit of the Laws’, Montesquieu proposed a division of power within the government between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. (v) The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee- houses and spread among people through books and newspapers.