CLASS 9 CH-FRENCH REVOLUTION

NOTES WITH QUESTION AND ANSWER

CLASS 9

HISTORY

CHAPTER-1

FRENCH REVOLUTION

1.0 FRENCH SOCIETY DURING THE LATE 18TH CENTURY

1. LOUIS XVI, the Bourban family of king ascended the throne in 1774.

2. He was 20 years old and married to the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette.

3. He had been handed over an empty treasury and had faced financial crisis.

REASONS OF FINANCIAL CRISIS

1. He had sent large number of French army force to help the 13th American colonies(Cotton states) to gain her independence from the common enemy Britain, This long years of war had drained the financial resources of France.

2. The war added more than billion livres to a debt.

3. He had taken loan at very rate of interest so he had to pay the interest too Approx 2 billion livres.

4.His court was extravagant.

5.Luxurious life of his wife added to lost of maintaining the court.

6.It was very difficult to maintain day to day expenditure on army, running government offices or universities.

SOCIAL CAUSES

1.The feudal system was prevalent in the French society because 60% of the land had been owned by nobles, clergy i.e First Estates and 2nd Estates.

2. About 90% of the people owned very small size of land or became landless.

3. They had hired the land from them ( members of First and Second Estate )

THE FRENCH SOCIETY WAS DIVIDED IN TO TWO CLASS

1. PRIVILEGE CLASS

FIRST ESTATE ( CLERGY)

SECOND ESTATE (THE NOBILITY)

TOTAL POPULATION 10% OF THE FRENCH SOCIETY

2. UNPRIVILEDGE CLASS

THIRD ESTATE

COMMONERS, LIKE BIG PEASANT, SMALL PEASANT, MERCHANTS,TRADERS, PROFFESSONALS.

TOTAL POPULATION 90%

PRIVILEGE CLASS

1. The members of First two estates that is the clergy and the nobility. They enjoyed certain privileges by birth.

2. They were exempted to pay tax the state.

3. The nobles further enjoyed feudal privileges.

4. These included feudal dues which they extracted from the peasants.

5. Peasants were obliged to render services to the lord to work in his houses and fields to serve in the army or to participate in building roads.

6. Finally all members of the Third Estate had to pay taxes to the state.

7. They included a direct tax called Taille.

8. The burden of financing activities of state through taxes was borne by the Third estate alone.

1.0 THE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

Question-

Why did people in France struggle to survive?

What is Subsistence Crises? What were the factors responsible for it?

Answer-

It is an Extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered.

1. The population of France rose from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.

2. This led to rapid increase in demand for food grains.

3. Production of food grains could not keep pace with demand.

4. So the price of food specially bread which was the staple diet rose rapidly.

5. Most of workers were employed as labourers in workshops whose owner had fixed their wages.

6. But wages did not keep pace with rise in price.

7. So the gap between rich and poor widened.

8. Things became worse. Whenever drought or hail reduced the harvest.

9. The France had faced above mentioned very frequently in France during the old Regime.

HOW A SUBSISTENCE CRISES HAPPENS

BED HARVEST ---------------- SCARCITY OF GRAIN----------- RISING FOOD PRICES------------

THE POOREST CAN NO LONGER BUY BREAD-----------------------WEAKER BODIES-------------

DISEASE EPIDEMICS-----------------------INCREASE OF NUMBER OF DEATHS.

1.3 A GROWING MIDDLE CLASS ENVISAGES AND END TO PRIVILEGES

QUESTION-

What was the role of French Philosophers in the France to end privileges.

ANSWER

In the past, peasants and workers had participated in revolts against increasing taxes and food scarcity, But then lacked the means and programmes to carry out full scale measures.

This was left to those groups within the 3rd Estate. Who had became programmes and had access education and new idea.

During the 18th century a new social groups emerged in France known as middle class who earned their wealth through trade and from manufacturing of goods.

In addition to merchants and manufacture the 3rd Estate included professions such as lawyer or administrative officials.

All of these were educated and believed that no group of society should be privileged by birth, It is based on merit.

These ideas envisaging a society based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities for all were put forward by philosophers such as-----------

JOHN LACKE - Refused the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch.

ROUSSEAU- He carried the idea forward proposing a form of govt. based on a social contract between people and their representatives.

MONTESQUIEU

He proposed A proposal regarding division of power within the government between the legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary.

The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in solons and coffee houses and spread among people through book and newspapers.

These were frequently read aloud in groups for the benefit of those who could not read and write.

2.0 THE OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION

QUESTION

DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE OUTBREAK OF REVOLUTIONARY PROTEST IN FRANCE.

ANSWER

The following circumstances led to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France-

1. Louis XVI was an autocratic ruler, who could not compromise with his luxurious life.

2. He had been handed over empty treasury.

3. Under Louis XVI France had helped 13th colonies of America to gain their independence from Britain . The was added more than a billion livers to a debt that reached to 2 billion livers.

4. Rate of interest was very high that had to be paid by the king.

5. Finally increased taxes to meet its regular expenses such as maintaining army, running government offices etc.

6.The privilege class the clergy and Nobility exempted from taxes.

7. The burden of financing activities of state through taxes was borne by the commoners.

8. The Middle class of 18th century who were educated and enlightened. They refused the theory of divine and absolute Monarchy.

9.They were advised to division of power within legislative , the Executive and the Judiciary.

10; The representative of the 3rd Estate drafted a new constitution of France that would limit the rest of France that would limit the power of the Monarch.

While the National Assembly was busy at Versailles the rest of France seethed (angry) with turmoil(noise and confusion)

Due to serve winter , the prices of bread went up very high. There was a long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormed in the shops.

At the same time the king ordered troops at move into Paris. On in July 1789 the agitated crowd stormed the destroyed the Bastille.

The agitated people were target castle( large building like kings building). They looted grain and burnt down the documents and record.

A large no of nobles fled from their homes many of them migrating to the other countries.

Louis XVI finally accorded recognition to the National Assembly and accepted the principle that his powers would be checked by a constitution.

QUESTION

WRITE IN BRIEF ABOUT DECREE PASSED BY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON 4TH AUGUEST 1789.

ANSWER

1. It abolished the feudal system of obligations and taxes.

2.Members of /clergy were forced to give up their privileges.

3. Tithes were abolished .

4. Lands owned by the church were confiscated .

5. As a result the government acquired assets worth at least 2 billion livers.

2.1 FRANCE BECAMES A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

QUESTION

HOW FRANCE BECAME A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY?

ANSWER

The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791.

It main objective was to limit the powers of the Monarch,

These powers like the Legislative, Executive an Judiciary separated and assigned to different institutions like -

1.The Legislative-

2.The Executive

3. The Judiciary

This made France a constitutional Monarch.

1.The constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly (Legislature) which was indirectly elected.

2. That is citizens voted for a group of electors who in turn chose the Assembly.

3. Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of wages were given the status of active citizens .

4. Rest citizen (male and female) were called as passive citizen.

QUESTION

WHAT WERE THE MAIN FEATURES OF CONSTITUTION OF 1791?

ANSWER

1. France became a constitutional Monarchy. The powers of the king were reduced.

2. These powers instead of concentrated in the hands of one person were separated and assigned to different institutions -The Legislature, the executive and the Judiciary

3.The constitutions of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly which was indirectly elected.

4. Only active citizens had got the right to vote (Male 25 years)

5. To qualify as an elector and than as a member of Assembly a men had a belonging to the highest bracket of taxpayers.

6. The constitution began with a declaration of the Rights of Man and citizens such as-

1. Rights to life

2. Freedom of speech.

3. Freedom of opinion

4. Equality before law

These rights were established as natural and inalienable right

These could not be taken back.

It was duty of state to protect each citizens Natural Rights.

POLITICAL SYMBOLS

1. BROKEN CHAIN- CHAINS WERE USED TO FETTER SLAVES . A BROKEN CHAIN STANDS FOR THE ACT OF BECOMING FREE.

2. THE BUNDLE OF RODS OF FASCES- ONE ROD CAN BE EASILY BROKEN BUT NOT AN ENTIRE BUNDLE.

3. THE EYE WITHIN A TRIANGLE RADIATING LIGHT- THE ALL SEEING EYE STANDS FOR KNOWLEDGE CLOUDS OF IGNORANCE.

4. SCEPTRA - SYMBOL OF ROYAL POWER

5. SNAKE BITING ITS TAIL TO FORM A RING SYMBOL OF FTERNITY. A RING HAS NEITHER BEGINNING NOR END.

6. RED PHRYGIAN CAP- CAP WORN BY A SLAVE UPON BECOMING FREE.

7. BLUE WHITE RED - THE NATIONAL COLOURS OF FRANCE.

8. THE WINGED WOMEN - PERSONIFICATION OF THE THE LAW.

9. THE LAW TABLET- THE LAW IS THE SAME FOR ALL AND ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE IT.

3.0 FRANCE ABOLISHES MONARCY AND BECAMES A REPUBLIC

QUESTION-

Name the patriotic song which was sang all over the France.

ANSWER-

Marseilles (La- Marseillaise)

QUESTION-

Who composed patriotic song which was sang all over the France?

ANSWER

Roger de - L' isle

QUESTION-

Which song became the national anthom of Fracnce?

ANSWER

Marseilles (La- Marseillaise)

Written- 1792

first time to be sang- 1792

QUESTION-

What was Jacobin Club? Who were the members of Jacobin ? What was the role of Jacobin club in the French Revolution.

ANSWER

It was a Political club of poor and middle class people of France. This club had in clouded small shopkeeper, Artisans such as shoemakers pastry cooks, watch makers, printers as well as servants and daily wags workers.

This club had got its name from the former convent of St. Jacobin Paris.

Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre. A large group of Jacobin decided to put on separate dress.

It was a way of proclaiming the end of the power wielded by the wearers of knee breeches.

These Jacobins came to be known as the Sans-Culotters. Literally meaning these without knee breeches Sans culotters men wore in addition the red cap that symbolised liberty.

Notes-

1. In the summer of 1792 the Jacobins planned an insurreetion of a large number of Parisians who were angered by the short supplies of food and high prices of food.

2. On the morning of 10th August 1792, they stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, massacred the kings guards and held the king himself as hostage for several hours.

3. Later the Assembly voted to imprison the royal family.

4. Election were held. From now on all men of 21 years and above regardless of wealth got the right to vote.

5.The Newly elected Assembly was called Convention.

6. On 21 September 1792 it abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.

7. Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on the charge of treason on 21 January 1793.

3.0 THE REIGN OF TERROR

QUESTION

Which period is known as the Reign of Terror and why?

ANSWER

The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Regin of Terror.

Robespierre followed a policy of serve control and punishment .

All these whom he saw as being enemies of the republic ex- nobles and clergy, members of other political parties, even member of his own party who did not agree with his method were arrested imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary tribunal.

It the court found them guilty they were guillotined .

The guillotine is a device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person beheaded.

It was named after Dr. Guillotin, who invented it.

QUESTION

What were the various achievements of Robespierre?

ANSWER

1. His govt issued laws placing a maximum ceilling on wages and prices.

2. Meat and bread were rational.

3. Peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at prices fixed by the government.

4. The use of more expensive white flour was forbidden.

5. All the citizens were required to eat the equality bread.

6. Equality was also sought to be practice through forms of speech address.

7. Instead of the traditional sir and Madam , all France Men and Women were hence forth Citoyen and Citoyenne.

8. Churches were shut down and their buildings converted in to barracks of offices.

Note-

But, finally Robespierre was convicted by the court in July 1794. He was arrested and on the next day sent to the Guillotine.

3.2 A DIRECTORY RULES OF FRANCE

QUESTION

What happened after the fall of Robespierre's Government.

Write short notes about the Directory Rules of France.

ANSWER

1.After the fall of Robespierre's Government the wealthier middle classes to seize.

2. A new constitution was introduced which denied the vote to non- propertied section of society.

3. It provided for two elected legislature council.

4. These then appointed a Directory an executive made up of five members.

5. This was meant as safeguard against the concentration of power in a one man executive as under the Jacobin.

6. However the Directors often clashed with the legislative council, who then sought to dismiss them.

7. The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of military dictator Napoleon Bonaparte.

QUESTION

What were the factors responsible for the rise of Napoleon to power.

How Napoleon rose the power in France?

ANSWER

1.The political instability of the Directory.

2. He dispossessed many dynasties and creating kings.

3. He introduced several laws such as-

a) Protection of Private property.

b) A uniform system of weight.

c) A uniform system of measures.

4. He was a expert diplomat.

5. He was viewed as liberator in the beginning because he had introduced many reforms in the principles of administration.

Note-

1. Napoleon was finally defeated at waterloo in 1815.

2. Napoleon crowed him self Emperor of France in 1804.

3. Louis XVIII (1815- 1824)

4.0 DID WOMEN HAVE A REVOLUTION?

QUESTION

What was the condition of women in France before Revolution.

ANSWER

Women did not avail responsible status in France society.

1. They were considered as inferior.

2. Most of them of the 3rd Estate had to work for living.

3. They worked as seamstresses or sold flower, fruits and vegetables at the market.

4. They were employed as domestic servants in the houses of prosperous people.

5. Most women din not have access to education or job training.

6. Only the daughters of nobles or wealthier members of the 3rd Estate could study at a convent.

7. Working women had to take care of their families.

8. They had to cook, fetch, water, queue up for bread and look after the children.

9. Their wages were always lower than those of men.

QUESTION

What did revolutionary Government do to improve the condition of women in France?

ANSWER

The revolutionary Government introduced several laws to improve the condition of women-

1. State schools were created and schooling was made compulsory for all girls.

2. Marriage was made into a contract entered into freely registered under civil law.

3. Divorce was made legal.

4. Divorce could be applied for by both women and men.

5. Women could now training for job, could become artists or run small businesses.

Note-

1. Women movement for voting rights and equal wages continued.

2. Women were finally in 1946 that women in France won the right to vote.

3. President of France 1944 to 1946 Charles De Gaulle.

QUESTION

Did women have a revolution?

ANSWER

1. They also had formed Jacobin Club (about 60 women Club)

2. They also revolted and made many demands like enjoying same political rights as men.

3. They demanded-

a) The right to vote

b) To be elected to the Assembly.

c) To be hold political office.

5.0 THE ABOLITION OF SLVERY

QUESTION

Describe the triangular slave trade that was carried on in the 18th and 19th century.

ANSWER

In order to over come the shortage of labours on the plantations like- tobacco, indigo, sugar and coffee.

1. A triangular slave trade between Europe, Africa and America began to meet the shortage of labour.

2.French merchants sailed from the ports of Bordeaux or Nantes to the African coast , where local chieftains.

4. They sold them these to plantation owners.

5. Through out the 18th century there were little criticism of slavery in France.

6. The National Assembly held long debates about extension of rights to all French including these in the colonies.

7. But it did not pass any laws fearing opposition from businessman whose incomes depended on the slave trade.

8. It was finally the convention which in 1794 legislated overseas possessions.

9. This however , turned out to be a short term measure 10 years later, came to Napoleon power and introduced slavery in 1804 which was finally abolished in France Colonies in 1848.

6.0 THE REVOLUTION AND EVERYDAY LIFE

1. The revolutionary ideas of the France Revolution i.e. Equality and liberty changed the clothes people wear the language they speak and the books they read.

2. Laws were passed to translate these ideas into everyday practice.

3. Abolition of Bastile in 1789 was the abolition of censorship.

4. Declaration of the Rights of men and citizens proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be natural rights.

5. As a result books, Newspapers, pamphlets flooded the France markets.

6. Freedom of press also meant that opposing views of events could be expressed. Each side sought to convince the others of its position the medium of print.

7. Plays, songs and festive processions attracted large numbers of people.

8. Majority of men and women could now easily understand the ideas of equality, liberty and justice.

NCERT QUESTION WITH ANSWER

QUESTION

Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world.

ANSWER

1. The ideas of liberty and equality became an icon for the rest of the world.

2. It promoted the idea of nationalism and fratenity.

3. Feudalism systems were finally abolished.

4. It inspired the people to create a sovereign nation state.

5. It promoted the idea of democracy.

6. The impact of the French Revolution could be seen on India. Tipu Sultan and Raja Ram Mohan Roy got deeply influenced by the idea of revolution.

QUESTION

Which group of French Society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish power ? Which groups sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcomes of the Revolution?

ANSWER

1.The wealthy class of the 3rd Estate which came to be known as middle class of France benefited.

2.This middle class comprised of Big businessmen, Petty offices, lawyers, teachers, doctors and traders.

3.Previous , they were paying taxes but after the revolution they began to be treated equality.

4. With the abolition of feudal system of obligations and taxes the Clergy and Nobility relinquish their power.

5. The poor sections of the the society i.e. Small peasants, landless labours, servants daily wages workers became disappointed with the outcome of the revolution.

QUESTION

Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today and whose origin could be traced to the French Revolution.

ANSWER

List of Democratic Rights-

1.Right to Equality.

2. Right to Freedom of Speech.

3. Right against exploitation.

4. Right Religious Freedom.

5. Right to Vote.

6. Right to education.

7. Right to life.

QUESTION