Get notes, questions, solutions, textual answers, pdf, and extras for Chapter 1: French Revolution, which is a part of the social science class 9 syllabus for students studying under the Nagaland Board of School Education. However, these notes should be used only for references and additions/modifications should be made as per the requirements.
INTRODUCTION: The French Revolution was one of the most important events in world history. It shook the foundation of mediaeval Europe and many important events that happened after the revolution in Europe in the 19th century were directly influenced by the revolution. The French Revolution began in 1789 and lasted till 1799.
There were many reasons for the revolution. One of the most important reasons was that people were unhappy with the king and how society was divided into different groups. The groups that are at the top used to bully the groups that were at the bottom. The rich would not pay taxes, but the poor were forced to pay taxes. This angered them and eventually led to a revolution. Furthermore, there were intellectuals like Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques Rousseau who incited the people to revolt against the king.
In this chapter, you will learn in brief how the revolution unfolded, what the causes were, and the consequences of the revolution.
NOTE: If some of the answers appear too long, you can ignore the parts marked with RED colour
I. Choose the correct answer:
1. Who comprised the First Estate and the Second Estate in France?
Answer: (a) Clergy and nobles
2. Who was the king of France on the eve of the Revolution?
Answer: (c) Louis XVI
3. The law that gave a final blow to the authority of the clergy was called:
Answer: (a) Civil constitution of the Clergy
4. The majority of the French population belonged to the ______ Estate.
Answer: Third
5. Which French philosopher propagated the theory of separation of powers into three branches of govern the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary?
Answer: (b) Montesquieu
6. Which French philosopher wrote the famous book Social Contract?
Answer: (c) J.J. Rousseau
7. Which emperor of France was publicly guillotined in January 1793?
Answer: (c) Louis XVI
II. Very Short Answer Type questions:
1. When did the French Revolution begin?
Answer: The French Revolution began on July 14, 1789.
2. Which dynasty ruled France at the time of the Revolution and what kind of monarchy it was?
Answer: The bourbon dynasty ruled France at the time of the Revolution. It was an absolute monarchy.
6. Which law turned the clergy into paid servants of the church?
Answer: The law that turned the clergy into paid servants of the Church was The Civil Constitution of the Clergy 1790.
7. Who was able to control the Sans Culottes in the end?
Answer: The Sans Culottes were brought under control finally by a Directory of Five in 1795 and then by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799.
8. Into how many branches did Montesquieu suggest the separation of the powers of the Government?
Answer: Montesquieu suggested the separation of the powers of the Government into three branches i.e., the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary.
III. Short Answer Type Questions:
1. Describe the role of the Bourbon kings in the French Revolution.
Answer: The Bourbon kings believed in the absolute monarchy. Towards the end of the 18th century, France’s financial condition had become desperate. Louis XV emptied the treasury through his extravagant living and poor governance. His son Louis XVI also failed to improve the condition of the country. He failed to tax the first and the second estates and the Third Estate were already taxed to its limits. These all played a big role in the revolution.
2. Explain the role of the middle class in the French Revolution.
Answer: The 18th century saw the emergence of the middle class. Apart from merchants and manufacturers, the Third Estate included professionals such as lawyers, teachers, authors, and administrative officials. The middle class believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth; rather one’s social position must depend on merit. Thus, the revolution was spearheaded by the middle class.
5. Describe the Reign of Terror and the role played by Robespierre in it.
Answer: The Reign of Terror was a period between June 1793 and July 1794 in France during which daily executions took place in Paris and in the provinces. Many were shot down in the countryside. The government was in the hands of a Committee of Public Safety, and its leader was Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre considered it his patriotic duty to execute all those who might try to put down the Revolution. Eventually, a coalition was formed against Robespierre by his colleagues who feared for their lives. The public was aroused against him. Robespierre was arrested, tried, and guillotined in July 1794. The reign of terror ended with his death.
IV. Long Answer Type Questions:
1. Discuss the political, economic and social causes of the French Revolution.
Answer: The political, economic and social causes of the French Revolution were:
Political causes: Before the French Revolution, France was under the Bourbon dynasty who believed in the absolute monarchy. In the 13th century, France established a parliament comprising the clergy, nobles and the common man, but the kings had stopped consulting it since 1614. The French kings believed in the Divine Right Theory. They thought that they were only responsible to God for the way they ruled. King Louis XIV taxed the people heavily without consulting the Estates General, and the common people in France suffered great hardships. The kings (Louis XIV and XV) were Catholics and they persecuted other religious groups. The kings also had no able ministers to guide them.
Economic causes: When King Louis XVI became king at the age of 20 years, he found an empty treasury. 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 lives to a debt that had already risen to more than 2 billion lives. Lenders who gave the state credit now began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans. To meet its regular expenses the state was forced to increase taxes but this would not have sufficed and only the members of the Third Estate paid taxes.
Social causes: The French society was divided into three estates and yet only the Third Estate used to pay taxes. The First and Second Estates, though enjoyed maximum privileges and ruled over the common people, didn’t pay any taxes. The Third Estate paid about 50% of their income by way of taxes and resented the unfair and oppressive taxes forced on them by the kings. The government did not care for their welfare. It was from this middle class that the main push for the revolution came. Peasants made up about 80 per cent of the population, but only a small number of them owned the land they cultivated.
2. The French philosophers of the 18th century greatly influenced the people and it led to the French Revolution. Comment on this statement.
Answer: The ideas to govern the world always come from philosophers. Prior to the French Revolution, great philosophers like Voltaire, Montesquieu and above all Rousseau paved the way for the revolution.
A. Voltaire: He launched bitter attacks against the church and the state. He made fun of the nobles and the way they behaved and governed and was against absolute monarchy. Voltaire defended freedom of speech and religious tolerance. Through mockery, Voltaire exposed the evils present in the social, political and religious lives of the French people.
B. Montesquieu: Montesquieu supported constitutional monarchy in France. He wanted the power to be shared between the king, the nobles and the Third Estate. In his book The Spirit of the Laws, he propagated the theory of separating powers into three branches of government – the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary.
C. Jean Jacques Rousseau: In his famous book Social Contract, he explained that the king and his subjects are parties to a contract, and therefore, if the king does not rule the people according to their general will, he loses their loyalty. He said that the people have every right to overthrow the monarchy under such circumstances. Rousseau advocated Popular Sovereignty Theory. He emphasised the equality and freedom of the citizens.
5. The French Revolution led to many “isms”. Explain.
Answer: French Revolution marked the beginning, for the first time in history, of active and institutionalised mass participation in government. The revolution led to many “isms” of nationalism, liberalism, and socialism.
Nationalism: Nationalism led to the birth of many new nations in Europe, Asia, and Africa. A nation now no longer was the king’s territory or his subjects. Rather, it is now comprised of citizens.
Liberalism: The main feature of this was the emancipation of the individual from class, corporate, or governmental restraint. The Declaration of Rights of Man inspired and guided many newly independent nations to frame their constitutions based on similar principles.
Socialism: Socialism emphasises the community and its collective welfare. This was also a result of the work of Sans Culottes during the Revolution. It promoted a society designed to promote collective well-being rather than individual profit.
6. Mention the legacy of the French Revolution.
Answer: The French Revolution not only affected France but changed its entire social and political system. It also had a lasting effect on the people of Europe in the 19th century. It inspired the Germans, Italians, and Austrians to overthrow their oppressive regimes. It led to a decade of political change, and Europe saw many revolutions inspired by the French Revolution. The watchwords of the French Revolution, such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, reflected the coming of a new democratic and social order in Europe and the world. The French Revolution also inspired the struggling nations of Asia and Africa. The French Revolution opened the eyes of the world to a profound social revolution.
Get notes of other classes and subjects
Thank you very much. It was very helpful to me.
I was searching for this answer and I finnally got this Thank you and I’ll be grateful if next time also I got the answer.
Thanks for the notes but sir some questions are missing.
Thank you so much online Free notes.
Thankyou OFN for the notes…..
It would be more better if it was in pdf file…
Thanks for the notes sir but if it was in pdf file it would be better
Thank??
it really a very nice
technology thank you for the notes sir
Thanks
Tqsm nbse but it’s better if it was in PDF file.