QUES-1) How was the French society organized during the Old regime?

ANS-1) The French society, before 1789, was divided into three estates; hence, it was called a
Society of estates.

The three estates were constituted as follows:

(a) The First Estate consisted of the clergy. The clergy was exempted from paying
taxes to the king.

(b) The Second Estate consisted of nobility. The nobility was also exempted from
paying taxes. The nobles also enjoyed feudal privileges. The third estate
consisted of big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants and
artisans, landless Labour and servants.

(c) The Third Estate compromised both rich and poor persons.

QUES-2) describe the conditions of the peasants in Old Regime?

ANS-2) Peasants made up about 90%of the nation’s population. They were the most
oppressed lot. In the Only a small number own some land; 60% of the land was owned by the
nobility, clergy and the richer Members of the third estate. Peasants had to pay different type
of taxes like:-

a. A direct tax called TAILLE.

b. A number of indirect taxes which were levied on articles of everyday consumption like
salt or tobacco.
c. Church extracted its share of taxes called TITHES.

Peasants were obliged to render services to feudal lords, such as

1. Work in their houses and fields.

2. Serve in the army, and participate in building roads.
.

QUES-3) what do you mean by ‘subsistence crisis’? Why did it occur frequently during Old
regime in France?

ANSW-3) a subsistence crisis refers to an extreme situation where the basic means livelihoods
are endangered. Subsistence crisis was caused by a bad harvest which in turn could be the rest
of natural hazard.

QUES-4) what are the causes of the French revolution?

ANSW-4) the causes are:-

 (a) INCREASE IN POPULATION:-There was increase in population from 23 million in 1715 to
28 million in 1 in 1789. Production of grains could not keep pace with the
increase demand. This led to rise in prices. There was no increase in the wages of most
of the workers the drought or hail reduced the harvest which led to subsistence crisis?
(b) RISE OF MIDDLE CLASS: - the 18th century saw the rise of educated middle class-lawyers
administrative Officials-which was against privileges by birth. They wanted a society
based on freedom INCREASE IN POPULATION:-There was increase in population from
23 million in 1715 to 28 million 1789. Production of grains could not keep pace with the
increase demand. This led to rise in prices. There was no increase in the wages of most
of the workers the drought or hail reduced the harvest which led to subsistence crisis?
(c) RISE OF MIDDLE CLASS: - the 18th century saw the rise of educated middle class-lawyers
administrative Officials-which was against privileges by birth. They wanted a society
based on freedom and equal laws.
(d) ROLE OF PHILOSPHERS: - The ideas of freedom and equal laws were put forward by
philosophers like John Locke, jean Jacques Montesquieu. They refuted the doctrine of
the divine and absolute right of the Monarch.
(e) IMMEDIATE CAUSES: - Under the above circumstances Louis XVI planned to impose
further taxes to meet the expenses of the state. This generated anger and protest
against the monarch. The calling of the Estate general in 1789 proved to be immediate
cause of the French revolution.

QUES-5) define the role of philosophers in the French revolutions.

ANSW-5) the roles of philosophers are:-

(a) The French philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu and Diderot proved
revolutionary ideals and inspired people to fight for their rights .they exposed to in
efficiency of the monarch and his govt. and aroused the people to challenge monarchy.
(b) Voltaire attacked the Catholic Church. He believed that the destiny is in one’s hand not
in heaven his ideas Encouraged people to fight against the church without any guilt.
(c) Rousseau believed that the govt. should be based on consent of the govt. In his book
‘social contract’ he Talks of a contract between the ruler and the ruled. Whereby ruler is
responsible for happiness of his Subjects Implied in his writings were the believed men.
Had a right to change their govt. if they were not satisfied.
(d) Montesquieu that all powers should not be concentrated in one person’s hand. He
stressed the principle of separation of powers and individual liberty.
 (e) (e)Thus emergence of philosophers roused people from inactivity and instilled in them a
****** to root out Social inequalities and set up a govt. responsive to their needs.

QUES-6) explain how the new political system started after the constitution was defeated in
1791?

ANSW-6) the changes occurred in the constitution:-

(a) the constitution separated and assigned powers to different institution:-

 The legislative.
 The executive.
 The judiciary.

(b) The constitution of1791 vested the power to make laws in the national assembly, which
was indirectly elected.
(c) Citizens voted for a group of electors, who in turn choose the assembly.
(d) Not all citizens, however, had the right to vote. Only men above 25 years of age, who
paid equal taxes to at least three days of laborer’s wage, were given the status of active
citizens ,i.e. they were entitled to vote.
(e) The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens .To qualify as an
elector and then as the member of the assembly, a man had to belong to the highest
bracket of tax payers.

Ques-7) Why is the declaration of right of man and citizen revolutionary document?

Answ-7) Declaration of rights of man and citizen:-

a. This document abolished the privileges and powers given to the French feudal
classes.
b. It provided equitable distribution of the burdens of taxations and of rights to
public property.
c. The declaration provided for equality before law and freedom of speech and
press.
d. The document was of great revolutionary importance for every govt. in Europe
at that time based on Privileges. If the ideas contained in the declaration were
applied to Europe, the old order of Europe would be destroyed.

Ques-8) what were the results of revolutionary wars against Prussia and Austria?

Answ-8) the results are as follows:-

 a. While the men are away fighting at the front, women were left to cope with the
tasks of earning a living and looking after their families.
.
b. Political clubs were set up to discuss govt. policies and plan their own forms of
actions e.g. Jacobins club.
c. Formation of women club.

Ques-9) Write a short note on Jacobins club.

Answ-9) (a) They belonged to the less prosperous sections of society.

(b) Members were small shopkeepers, artisans, servants and daily wage workers.

(c) There leader was Maximilian Robespierre.

(d) They wore long striped trousers similar to those dock workers as a way to proclaim the end
of the power Wielded by the wearers of knee breeches i.e. nobles.

Ques-10) How were Jacobins known?

Answ-10) As the sans culottes, literally meaning ‘those without knee breeches’ they wore
red caps symbolized Liberty.

Ques-11) What do you mean by reign of terror?

Answ-11) Jacobins, under the leadership of Robespierre, assumed the control of assembly
in the election that Were held in 1792. He unleashed a reign of terror that lasted for 1793 to
1794. Some of his action Are as follows:-

(a) Robespierre followed a policy of self control and punishment.

(b) All those whom he saw as being ‘enemies’ of the republic-ex nobles and clergy
members of other political parties , even members of his parties who didn’t agree with
his methods were arrested, imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary tribunal. If the
court found him ‘guilty’, they were guillotined.

QUES-12) Mention some measures adopted by Robespierre govt.

ANSW-12) The measures adopted by him:-

(a) Robespierre passed laws placing a ceiling on wages or prices.

(b) Meat and were rationed. Peasants were forced to transport their grains to the cities and
sell it at fixed Prices.
(c) Equality was to be practiced through forms of speech and address. French men and
women hitherto known as citoyen citoyenne (citizen) instead of traditional monsieur
(sir), Madame (madam).
(d) All citizens had to eat the pain d’egalite (equality bread) which was a bread made up of
whole wheat and use of white flour was forbidden.

Ques-13) What was the directory?

Answ-13) (a) With the fall of the Robespierre in 1794, political power passed into the
hands of the wealthier middle Class.

(b) A new constitution was introduced.

(c) It denied the right to vote to non-propertied sections of the society.

(d) It provided for two elected legislative councils.

(e) Legislative council appointed an executive made of five members.

The executive came to be known as directory. This was meant as a safeguard

against the concentration of Power in the one-man executive as under the Jacobins.

Ques-14) what role did women play during the revolutionary year?

Answ-14) women played a main role during the revolutionary year.

a. In order to discuss and voice their interests, women started their own political clubs and
newspapers. About sixty women clubs emerged in different French cities.
b. The most famous was the society of revolutionary and republican women.
c. They wanted to enjoy the same political rights as men, i.e. right to vote, to be elected to
the and to hold political office.
d. Women’s struggle for equal political right during the revolutionary years inspired French
women during the late 19th and early 20th century. Finally in 1946french women won
the right to vote.

Ques-15) what laws were passed by the revolutionary govt. for the benefits of the women?
Answ-15) (a) State schools were opened and attendance was made compulsory for all the
girls.

(b) They couldn’t be married against their will by their father. Marriage was now a
contract which could we registered under civil law.

(c) Divorce was now legal and both men and women could apply for it.

(d) Women could now be trained for jobs and can even become entrepreneurs.

(e) In 1946 women in France got the right to vote.

Ques-16) Compare the manifesto drafted by olympe de gouges with the declaration of
rights of men and citizens.

Answ-16) (a) the ‘manifesto’ and the ‘declaration’ were the two absolutely different
documents. They were a

Study In contrast.

(b) The manifesto sought to give social, economic and political equality to all
citizens female or male.

(c) The declaration on the other hand, denied different privileges to women. They
were sidelined as

‘Passive citizens’.

Ques-17) What is the Impact of abolition of censorship?

Answ-17) (a) In 1789 censorship on press was abolished.

. (b) France was flooded with newspapers, books etc. describing the event and
changes taking place all over the France.

(c) Freedom of press helped people in forming public ******.

Q-18) How could Rousseau’s teaching lay the foundation of democracy?

Ans. (a) jeans Jacquas Rousseau’s teaching helped to lay the foundation of democracy
because he upheld the doctrine of popular sovereign.

(b) He believed that the govt. should be based on the consent of the governed.

(c) He stated that people are the real sovereign and kings rule only with their consent.
 (d) His famous work social contract talks of a contract between the ruler and the ruled
where by the former would guarantee the freedom and happiness to his subjects.

(e) He believed that men had a right to change their government if they were not
satisfied which is another cardinal principle of democracy.

(f) Rousseau’s revolutionary ideas paved the way for the French Revolution and
encouraged people to fight their rights.

QUES-19) Impact of French revolution on France.

ANSW-19) (a) the French revolution

(a) The French revolution marked the end of absolute monarchy and paved the way for
a republican government.

(b) It upheld the theory of popular sovereignty and laid the foundation of most
important democratic principle, i.e., government should be based on the consent of governed.

(c) The slogan of equality, liberty and fraternity became the watchwords of freedom
loving people all over the world.

(d) Feudalism and serfdom were abolished and the power of the clergy checked.

(e)The Jacobins gave the people the right to vote and the right of insurrection.

(f) New reforms were introduced in education, administration and the judiciary.

QUES-20) Describe the legacy of the French revolution for the people of the world during the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Ans-20) 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 system were abolished. People in the colonies reworked the idea of
freedom from bondage into their movements to create a sovereign state.

Q.21 what was the condition of the women of third estate in the eighteen century in France.

Ans. (i) Most women of the third estate had to work for living.

(ii) They worked as seamstresses or laundresses, sold flowers, fruits and vegetables at
the market or were employed as domestic servants.

(iii) They did not have access to education or job training.

 (iv) They were paid lower wages.

Q.22. which groups of French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were
forced to relinquish power/ which section of society would have been disappointed with
outcome of the revolution?

A. (i) groups benefited from the revolution: Peasants artisan, small peasants landless
labour, servants lawyers, doctors and workers.

(ii)Groups which were forced to relinquish power: People of first estates(clergy) and
second estates(nobility).

(iii) Clergy and nobility would have been disappointed with the outcome of the
revolution.

Q.23. Describe the rise and fall of the napoleon.

A.23. Rise of napoleon :-

(a) Napoleon passed laws for protection of private properties and for establishment of a
uniform system of weights and measures.

(b) He also codified French law which is also known as ‘napoleon code’.

(c) The fall of Jacobin club led to the establishment of the ‘directory’ which consisted of
an executive made of five members.

(d) But the directors often clashed with the legislative councils who then sought to dismiss
them .the political instability of the directory led to the rise of napoleon.

Fall of the napoleon:-

(a) The fall of the napoleon can be traced to his ill-fated Russian campaign. In 1812,
napoleon invaded Russia in winter with a large army though his entry in the Moscow was
triumphant; it soon turned into one of the most terrible military disasters in history. His army
was reduced to half a million due to scarcity of food, clothes, the excusive cold and disease.

(b) The European nations now rose against him and in 1813 he suffered a decisive defeat
in a battle near Leipzig. The allied power restored the bourbon dynasty by enthroning Louis
XVIII. Napoleon attempted to make a comeback but was defeated in the famous battle of
waterloo. He was imprisoned in the island of st. Helena where he died six years later.

QUES-24) Draw a list of democratic rights which we enjoy today whose origin could be traced
to the French revolution.

ANSW-24) A list of such rights is:-

(a) Right to freedom (freedom of speech and expression , of assembly of association,

of movement)

(b) Right to equality (equality before laws and no special privileges, equal privileges
for all).

(c) Right to vote.

(d) Right to life.

(e) No one may be arrested / detained except in cases determined by laws

(f) Right to property, a scared and inviolable rights.

These are the main rights which have their own origin to the French revolution.

Ques-25 What are the conditions on the eve of the French Revolution. In other words
we can say that following were the chief causes of the French Revolution:

(a) Social Causes - On the eve of the revolution, the French society was ridden with
several inequalities. The clergy and the nobles led a life of luxury and enjoyed
numerous privileges. On the other hand, the peasants and workers lived a wretched life.
They groaned under heavy taxes and forced labour. The middle-class comprising of
lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc also suffered humiliation at the hands of the clergy and
the nobles. This state of social inequality was the chief cause of the French Revolution.

(b) Political Causes - Emperor Louis XVI of France was an empty headed despot. He
and his queen, Marie Antoinette, squandered money on their luxurious living and
wasteful festivities. The high posts were often auctioned, so inefficiency reigned
supreme. The whole administration was corrupt and each department had its own laws.
In the absence of any uniform system there was confusion all around. The people were
tired of such a rotten system of administration and wanted a change.

(c) Economic Causes - France had been continually involved in wars which had
broken her economy. The luxurious life led by the French King Louis XVI and his queen
had made the matter still worse. The people groaned under heavy taxes. The system
was so faulty that only a fraction of the taxes could be realized as the people were too
poor to pay the taxes while nobles and the clergy who could pay, were completely
exempted from all the taxes. The economy became so bad that the French Government
had almost reached a state of bankruptcy. Thus the shattered economy of France
proved a major cause of the Revolution.

(d) Immediate Cause - Forced by financial bankruptcy, Emperor Louis XVI was
compelled to call a meeting of the Estates General in 1789 A.D. after a lapse of 175
years. It generated much excitement as the members of the Third Estate were
determined to put forth their problems. But when the first two Estates i.e. the Clergy and
the Nobility refused to have a common meeting with the Third Estate, the people lost
their temper. They had already suffered much in the severe famine in 1788 - 1789. In
this way the calling of the Estates General in 1789 A.D. proved to be the immediate
cause of the French Revolution.

Q.26 : Which groups of French society benefitted from the revolution? Which groups
were forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been
disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?

Ans: Groups of French society which benefitted from the revolution - All the groups
of French society which formerly formed a part of the Third Estate were benefitted from
the revolution. These groups included the peasants, workers, petty-officers, lawyers,
teachers, doctors and traders. Formerly they had to pay all the taxes and they were
humiliated both by the Clergy and the Nobles at every point but after the revolution they
began to be treated equal with the upper sections of the society.

Groups of French society which were forced to relinquish power - People

belonging to the upper classes - the First Estate and the Second Estate, which enjoyed
all the privileges has to relinquish power. Such people were the Clergy and the Nobles.
The special privileges of these higher sections were abolished as a result of the French
Revolution. Now the French society was organized on the basis of social equality.

Sections of society which would have been disappointed with the outcome of the
revolution - Naturally the erstwhile privileged classes i.e. the Clergy and the Nobles
would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution because everybody is
disappointed when privileges are taken away from them.
Q.27 : Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during
the 19th and the 20th centuries.

Ans: The French Revolution was one of the most significant events in the World History.
It gave to the world the three main ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Its main
achievements and effects on the modern world were as follows:

>> The French Revolution put an end to the arbitrary rule and developed the idea of
People’s Republic in Europe and subsequently in other parts of the world.

>> It inspired the people throughout the world with the ideals of freedom and liberty
which subsequently formed the basis of the national sovereignty.

>> The French Revolution preached the concept of equal rights for all the citizens,
which subsequently became the concept of equality before law for all people.

>> It spread the idea of human fraternity which is one of the chief attributes for
promoting the ideals of love, unity and co-operation among the different sections of the
society.

>> The French Revolution gave the term ‘Nation’ its modern meaning and promoted the
concept of ‘nationalist’ which inspired the people in Poland, Germany, Netherlands and
Italy to establish Nation-States in their countries.

>> The French Revolution had a great salutary effect on the ruling monarchs who took
several measures to ensure people’s welfare introducing many reforms.

Q.4: Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origin could be
treated to the French Revolution.

Ans: We in India enjoy the following Fundamental Rights.

>> Right to Equality.

>> Right to Freedom.

>> Cultural and Educational Right

>> Right to Religious Freedom

>> Right against Exploitation

>> Right to Constitutional Remedies.

If we closely study the impact of the French Revolution, we can easily find that many of
them have their origin in the French Revolution.
I. Right to Equality - The Right to Equality has its origin in the French Revolution.
Equality was one of the main principles of the French Revolution, which led to
special rights and privileges of the common classes and established political,
economic and social equality.
II. Right to Liberty or Freedom - The origin of this right can also be traced to the
French Revolution. The Declaration of Rights of Man laid emphasis on the
personal liberty and right of the common peoples.
III. Inspiring the Spirit of Democracy - The French Revolution inspired the spirit of
democracy which ensured all other rights which we enjoy today. It stressed on the
principle that the government should not be only for the people but also by the
people.
IV. Encouraging the Spirit of Fraternity - By breaking all shackles of high and low the
French Revolution helped in the growth of the spirit of Fraternity and Social
Welfare.

Directly or indirectly the origin of all Fundamental Rights can be traced to the French
Revolution.

Q.28 : Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset
with contradictions. Explain.

Ans: There are two opinions on this point whether the message of universal rights was
beset with concentrations or not. Most of the authors feel that the message of universal
rights, as explained in the last question was quite clear and there should be no
contradiction to such principles. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen was
perhaps the first attempt in the world to draw an outline of the universal rights on such a
wider scale. It was a laudable attempt. It laid emphasis on the three fundamental
principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Such principles have been adopted by all
the democratic countries. Contradictions, if any, are only vague and need not be taken
so seriously. Some criticize only for the sake of criticism and so they should be ignored.
The French Revolutionaries must be congratulated for heralding the great principles of
Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

Q29 : Identity Louis XVI, telling the part played by him in the French Revolution.

Ans: Louis XVI was a despotic ruler of France. He was a man of moderate intelligence
and was obstinate. He was deposed during the French Revolution in 1789, and
subsequently, executed in 1793 A.D.

Q.30 Identify Napoleon, telling the part played by him in the French Revolution.
Ans: Napoleon was a great French general, who won many battles for the revolutionary
France and raised his nation’s prestige. There was a time when he had become a terror
for all the European monarchs. But, in the end, his limited resources collapsed in the
face of Fourth Coalition of the European nations. He was defeated in the Battle of
Waterloo in 1815 A.D. was sent as a prisoner to spend his last days at the small island
of St. Helena where he died unsung in the year 1821 A.D.