Class: 9th Social Science

(History)
Ch-5 The French Revolution

1. Objective Type Questions:-

A) Multiple Choice Questions:

1.The burden of financial activities of the state during the old Regime was borne by the

a) Church b) Noble c) Third estate d) The King

Ans. Third estate.

2.Austrian Princess Marie Antoinette was the Queen of which ruler of France?

a) Louis III b) Louis XIV c) Louis XV d) Louis XVI

Ans. Louis XVI.

3.Napoleon crowned himself the Emperor of France in

a)1805 b)1 804 c)1803 d)1806

Ans. 1804

4. When was ‘Tennis Court Oath’ taken in France?

a) 14th July, 1789 b) 20th June, 1789

c) 4th August, 1789 d) 5th May, 1789

Ans.20th June, 1789

5. In context of France what was the ‘Convention’?

a) A French School b) Newly Elected Assembly

c) The Club d) A Women Organizations

Ans. Newly Elected Assembly.

a) Divine Right b) Decentralisation of Power

c) The Social Contract d) Balance of Power

Ans. Decentralisation of Power.

7.In the history of France which period is known Reign of Great Terror

a)1792-93 b)1774-76 c)1793 -94 d)1804 -1815

Ans.1793-94

B) Fill in the blanks:

1. The device used by French for beheading a person was known as Guillotine.

2. Bastille was stormed in the year 14 July 1789 A.D.

3. In 1815 A.D. Napoleon was defeated in the battle of Waterloo.

4. Maximilian Robespierre was the leader of Jacobin Club.

5. The book Social Contract was written by Rousseau.

6. Marseillaise was composed by Roger de L’Isle.

C) Match the columns:

1.Fortress Prison Guillotine

2.Tax levied by church Jacobin

3.To behead a person Rousseau

4. A club of French middle class Bastille

5.The Social Contract Tithe

Ans. 1. Fortress prison Bastille

2. Tax levied by church Tithe

3. To behead a person Guillotine

4. A club for French middle class Jacobin

5. The Social Contract Rousseau

1.First estate and Third estate

Ans. First Estate- The first estate was divided into two categories of the Clergy: (i) The higher
clergy and (ii) The ordinary clergy. The higher clergy i.e. Archbishops, Bishops and Abbots
ruled the church in France. The higher clergy was only 1% of the population, they enjoyed the
great wealth of church and had the right to collect a tax. The ordinary clergymen were
supposed to live in the monasteries and conduct the spiritual services. They came from the
lower classes. Their income was so meager that they faced great difficulty in leading a normal
life.

Third Estate- This section of the society constituted 97% of the total population. This class
suffered from inequality and great social and economic disparity. It included a big
businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, Peasants and artisans, Small peasants,
landless labour, servants. Most of the taxes were paid by the third estate.

2.Tithe and Taille

Ans. There were two main types of indirect taxes that the peasants of France had to pay: Tithe
and Taille. Tithe paid to church and Taille paid to the state.

2. Very Short Answer Type Questions:-

Q 1. When did the French Revolution occur?

Ans. In 1789 A.D.

Q 2. Who was the leader of the Jacobin Club?

Ans. Maximilian Robespierre.

Q 3. What was Directory?

Ans. Directory was the council of five members.

Q 4. Which estate used to pay taxes in the French society?

Ans. The Third Estate.

Q 5. What was the tax paid directly to the state?

Ans. Taille.
Q 6. Which classes were exempted from paying taxes?

Ans. First and Second Estate.

Q 7. How many types of taxes were paid by peasant?

Ans. Two types of taxes. Tithe and Taille.

Q 8. Name the National Anthem of France.

Ans. Marseillaise.

3.Short Answer Type Questions:

Q 1.How was the French society divided before the French Revolution?

Ans. Before the French Revolution, French society was divided into three classes-
Ans. First Estate- The first estate was made divided into two categories of the Clergy: The
higher clergy and the ordinary clergy. The higher clergy i.e. Archbishops, Bishops and Abbots
ruled the church in France. The higher clergy was only 1% of the population. They enjoyed the
great wealth of church and had the right to collect a tax. The ordinary clergymen were
supposed to live in the monasteries and conduct the spiritual services. They came from the
lower classes. Their income was so meagre that they faced great difficulty in leading a normal
life.
Second Estate- This section consisted of the nobility and aristocrats. This class was also
exempted from paying taxes and it acquired wealth from the land owned. The second estate
comprised 2%of the French population.
Third Estate- This section of the society constituted 97% of the total population. This class
suffered from inequality and great social and economic disparity. It included a big
businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, Peasants and artisans, Small peasants,
landless labour, servants. Most of the taxes were paid by the third estate.

Q 2. Describe the role of Women in the French Revolution.

Ans. Women were not considered active citizens under any of the governments of the French
Revolution but women were quite active participants during the French Revolution. They joined
the Revolution in the hope of improving their lives under the new government. The movement
for voting rights and wages continued. At the time of revolution Olympe de Gouges was one of
the most important among the politically active women in revolutionary France. She protested
against the constitution and the declaration of rights of Man and Citizen as they excluded
women from basic rights. She criticized the Jacobin government for closing down the women‟s
clubs. So that she was executed. Over a period of time schooling was made compulsory for all
women and state schools encouraged education. Almost the next 150 years that French women
gained the right to vote in 1946 A.D.
Q3. Describe in brief about the famous writers philosophers who influenced the French
Revolution?

Ans. Voltaire- Through his writings he exposed the high handedness of the clergy and the
nobles. He believed that all religions are absurd and contrary to reason.
Rousseau- He raised voice against arbitrary and tyrannical rule and propounded the concept of
democracy. He said „Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains‟. He considered
democracy as the best form of Government.
Montesquieu-Montesquieu challenged the theory of Divine Right of the king and outlined the
principles of constitutional monarchy.
Q4. What do you mean by Monarchy?

Ans. The Monarchy is a form of government in which a country is ruled by „monarch‟ such as a
king or Queen. The authority or crown in Monarchy is generally inherited.
Q 5.What is National Constitutional Assembly ?

Ans. The third estate viewed themselves as the spokespersons for the French nation and they
swore not to disperse till they drafted the constitution for France. The drafting of a written
constitution was completed in 1791.It distributed power among the Legislative, Executive and
Judiciary. The new constitution converted France into a constitutional monarchy.
4. Long Answer Type Questions:-

Q 1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of French Revolution?

Ans. French Revolution was a great event in the history of the world. It left an immense influence
on history.

1. The French government particularly during 1780s, was facing the task of increased taxation to
ease the burden of the financial crisis it faced. This lead to the resentment among the people
and paved way for French Revolution.

2. There was a hereditary monarchy in France and the king held himself to the representative of
God on earth.

3. The long years of wars, the cost of maintaining an army, upkeep of the magnificent palace of
Versailles, running government offices had drained the wealth of France.

4. French society was divided into three categories: the higher clergy, Nobilty and Commoners.
Most of the taxes were paid by the third class.

5.The economy of France was primarily based on agriculture. Peasants of France bore the
burden of taxation.

6.The peasants had to pay indirect taxes Tithe and Taille.

8. The intellectuals of France like Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu highlighted the excesses
of the government and other privileged classes and aroused people‟s feelings against the
prevailing inequalities.
Q 2. Explain the phases of the French Revolution?

Ans. 1.The Tennis Court Oath- On 17 June, 1789 the third estate claiming to represent the
nation‟s population and declared itself as Constituting National Assembly. The National
Assembly also issued a „Declaration of the Rights of Man’ and Citizens. On 20 June, 1789 the
third estate met at an indoor Tennis Court. The members resolved “Never to separate and to
reassemble whenever circumstances shall require until the constitution shall be determined”.
An Oath was taken and signed by all the representative for the Third Estate. Louis XVI could not
reconcile to these changes and he made preparation to break the Assembly. Troops were
called and rumours spread that the leading members of the assembly would be soon arrested.
On July 14, 1789 A.D. a mob attacked the grim fortress prison which was called the Bastille. With
the storming of the Bastille the revolution reached its frenzy. It marked the end of royal
despotism in France.

2. National Assembly-The Third estate viewed themselves as the spokespersons of the French
nation. They declared themselves a National Assembly and swore not to disperse till they
drafted the Constitution for France. National Assembly not only succeeded in abolishing
feudalism and class privileges but also made a declaration regarding rights which outlined the
aims of the revolution .

3. Jacobins- A radical group, the Jacobins came to power who believed in direct democracy.
The members of the Jacobins club are mainly from the less prosperous sections of the society.
They included small shopkeepers, artisans, shoemakers, watchmakers and daily wage workers.
Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre. The Jacobins planned an insurrection in 1792 A.D.
using the anger of the people of the Paris over short supplies and high prices of food. They
stormed the palace of the Tuileries and massacred the king‟s guards. Robespierre followed a
policy of severely control and punish. Robespierre carried his policies so relentlessly that even
his supporters began to demand moderation. Finally he was convicted and Guillotined by the
court in July 1794 A.D.
4. Directory- With the exclusion of Robespierre the Jacobin government came to an end. This
once again gave the wealthy people of the French society a chance to seize power and form the
government. From 1795-1799 A.D. The Directory ruled France. Jacobins appointed a five
members Directory Council and two elected legislative councils. There were often clashes
between the directors and members of the legislature. This Political instability between the
legislature and the Directors paved the way for the rise of the military dictatorship of Napoleon
Bonaparte in France.

5. Napoleon Bonaparte- Napoleon Bonaparte was a French general who was famous for his
victories over Italy. He got political power in 1799 A.D. He crowned himself the emperor of
France in 1804 A.D. He made modern rules like Laws to protect private property, a uniform
system of weights and measurements, Centralization of government, Creation of bank of France
and uniform and compulsory school education system etc. Napoleon was defeated in the battle
of Waterloo in 1815 A.D. The British imprisoned him on the remote island of St. Helena where he
died on 5 May, 1821 A.D.

Q 3. What was the impact of the French Revolution?

Ans.1. French Revolution is considered to be seminal event in the world history. It signalled the
end of the of the medieval world of hierarchy.

2. The government formed after the revolution took the responsibility of passing laws that would
translate the ideas of liberty and equality into everyday life.

3. A major result was the abolition of the privileges that existed under the old regime.

4. The Declaration of the Rights of Men and Citizen ensured freedom of speech and expression
to all the citizens.

5. The French Revolution gave the term „nation‟ its modern meaning.

6. The concept of sovereignty developed which means that the people constituting the nation
are the source of all power and authority.

7. It ended the dominated powers of Nobles and priests.

8. Middle classes, women, peasants and the workers began to actively shape the world around
them.
Q 4. What was the condition of women of the Third Estate before 1789 A.D.?

Ans. Most of the women in Third Estate worked for their living as flower sellers, fruits and
vegetable vendors, seamstresses and employed as domestic servants in the house of rich and
prosperous people.

2. They worked along with men.

3. They were paid less than the men.

4. Working women also had to take the responsibilities of the house.

5. They do not have any access to education or job training.

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