ABU DHABI INDIAN SCHOOL - BRANCH 1, AL WATHBA

Grade 9 SOCIAL SCIENCE

FRENCH REVOLUTION (Notes)2022-2023
Important dates related to French Revolution
• 1774: Louis XVI becomes King of France.
• 1789: Third Estate forms National Assembly. The Bastille is stormed, Session of Estates General
• 1791: A constitution is framed to limit the powers of the monarch.
• 1792-93: France becomes a republic. The king is executed. Directory rules France.
• 1804: Napoleon becomes emperor of France.
• 1815: Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo.

1. Describe the system of Estates in which the French Society was organized in the 18 th
century.What was the condition of peasants in this system?
The 18th century French society (Old regime) was organized as three estates
 First Estate: French society was divided into classes called Estates, The First Estate consisted of
the Clergy which held vastland, wealth and was exempted from taxes.
 Second Estate: It consisted of the aristocracy and controlled all the top positions in the
government parliament andin the army and navy,theywere also exempted from taxation and
led an extravagant life,
 Third Estate: This comprised everyone who was neither nobility nor clergy and constituted
almost 97% of the population.The wealthy upper middle class (merchants, bankers, and
doctors. lawyers), lower middle class, shopkeepers, craftsmen. And peasants comprised the
Third Estate. This class lacked political power, social status and was heavily taxed.
 The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen: In 1789.the French National Assembly adopted a
set of basic principles called the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen the Constitution
began with a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens. Rights as such the right to life,
freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law were established as ‘natural an
inalienable’ rights.

2: Write a short note on 'Reign of Terror'.

 The term 'Reign of terror' referred to the policy of severe controland punishment. This
policy was adopted by Robespierre during his reign from 1793 to 1794. During this period,
all of those whom he considered being enemies of the Republic (e.g. nobles, clergy,
members of other political parties) were arrested. They were tried by a revolutionary
tribunal and eventually
More than 15,000 persons including Queen of France were guillotined or executed.
 Peasants were forced to sell their grains at the prices fixed by the government. All citizens
were forced to eat the equality breadi.ie, a loaf made of whole wheat.
 Churches were shut down and their buildings were converted into barracks or offices.
 3: What role did women of France of the third Estate play in French revolution?
Answer: Women of the third estate ofFrance played a crucial role in the revolution:
 During Revolutionary years, women started their own politicalclubs and newspapers. They set
up about sixty women clubs in different cities of France.
 The most famous among them was the Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women.
 They also demanded to enjoy the same political rights as men that is right to vote, to be elected
to the Assembly and to hold political office.
 However, the women were disappointed because they were not given same politic al rights as
enjoyed by the men of France.
4: What was the legacy of the French Revolution?

 It led to the decade of political changes in Europe.

 Three founding words of the French revolution i.e. 'liberty, equality and fraternity' reflected
the coming of new democratic and social order in Europe and rest of the world.
 It inspired the Germans, Italians and Austrians to overthrow their oppressive regimes.
 It inspired struggling nations of Asia and Africa. E.g. India's struggle for Independence was
inspired by the thoughts of French philosophers like Voltaire and Rousseau.
 French revolution put into the practice the idea that sovereignty comes from the people from
below not from the above.
 It marked the beginning for the first time in history about active and institutionalized mass
participation in the government. It inculcated the spirit of nationalism among the people.

5: What is the importance of the document 'Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen'?
OR
Why 'Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen' is considered as a revolutionary document in French
revolution?
Answer: Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is regarded as a revolutionary document
because:
1. It abolished the privileges and power given to the French feudal classes i.e. First Estate and
Second Estate.
2. It provided equal distribution of the burdens of taxation and rights to public property among
all citizens.
3. The Declaration emphasized equality before law and freedom of speech and press. Every
citizen has right to speak, print and express.
6 Explain how did the freedom of speech and expression under the revolutionary government in
France promote the ideals of Liberty and Equality into everyday practice.
Answer:
1. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen emphasized that freedom of speech and
expression be established as established as 'natural and inalienable' right.
2. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee houses and
spread among people through books and newspapers.
3. Newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures flooded the towns of France from #here
they travelled rapidly into the countryside.
7: What was the important aim of setting up Directory? What was the final outcome of appointing the
Directory?

Answer: After the fall of the Jacobin government, the two elected legislative Council appointed an
executive of five members called Directory. The main objective of the directory was to work as a
safeguard against the concentration of powerin a one-man executive as under the Jacobins.

However, the Directors often clashed with the legislative councils, who then sought to dismiss them.
The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of a military dictator, Napoleon
Bonaparte.

8: What was the role of French philosophers and revolutionary thinkers in the French Revolution?

Answer: The 18th century witnessed the emergence of revolutionary thinkers such as John Locke, Jean
Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu. They didn't play an active role in the events of the revolution but
their ideas inspired the revolutionary movement. Their revolutionary ideas encouraged people to fight for
their rights.

1. The idea of a society based on freedom, equal laws and opportunities for all were put forward by
philosophers such as John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. In his book Two Treat sets of Government,
Locke sought to refute the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch.
2. Rousseau carried his radical ideas forward by proposing a form of government based on the social
contract between people and their representatives.
3. Montesquieu, in his book, The Spirit of the Laws proposed a division of power within the government
between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.
4. Voltaire's ideas revolved around individual liberties. He believed that people should have freedom of
expression.
The ideas of these philosophers were discussed and debated in salons and coffee houses and spread
among people through books and newspapers. This founded the way to the revolution of 1789.

9: What was the impact of the French Revolution in France?

Answer: The impact of the French Revolution in France can be summarized as:
1. End of Monarchy: It marked the end of absolute monarchy and paved way for a republic government.
2. Laid the foundation of Democratic Principles: It upheld the theory of sovereignty and laid the
foundation of the democratic principles i.e.government decisions should be based on the consent of her
citizens.
3. Ideas of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity: The slogans of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity became the
founding milestones for a democratic nation.
4. Declaration of Rights and Equality: The declaration provided equality among the citizens for allpublic
offices, freedom of speech and expression was granted and freedom from arrest without a proven cause
was implemented.
5. Abolition of Censorship: Mass media was allowed Freedom of the press was granted.
6. Taxes to be paid by all: Taxes would be borne by all the people irrespective of their status.
7. Religious Freedom: It guaranteed the free exercise of religious worship and abolished the taxes
collected by the churches.
8. Reforms and New Initiatives: New initiatives and reforms were carried out in education, administration
and judiciary domain.
10: Who were allowed to vote for the formation of the National Assembly?
Only men above 25 years of age and those who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourers wage
were given the status of active citizens.And they were entitled to vote.
The remaining men and women were classified as passive citizens and were not allowed to vote.
 To qualify as an elector and then as a member of the assembly, a man had to belong to the highest
bracket of
Taxpayers.
11: What was The Great Fear of French revolution?
Answer: After the storming of the Bastille, the National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a
Constitution, the rest of France seethed with turmoil.
1. In the countryside rumors spread from village to village that the royalists of the manor had hired bands
of brigands who were on their way to destroy the ripe crops.
2. Rumors also spread that Kings Men were planning to kill National assembly representatives.
3. Caught in a frenzy of fear, peasants in several districts seized hoes and pitchforks and attacked
chateaux. They looted hoarded grain and burnt down documents containing records of manorial dues.
4. A large number of nobles fled from their homes, many of them migrating to neighboring countries.
This turmoilat that time is termed as The Great Fear.

12: What happened after the fall of Robespierre's government?

Or
Write a short note on the Directory.
Answer: After the fall of Robespierre's government, the prosperous and educated middle classes came
forward to seize power. A new constitution was introduced which denied the vote to non-propertied
sections of the society. It provided for two elected legislative councils. These then appointed a Directory.
An executive made up of five members. This was meant as a safeguard against the concentration of
power in a one man executive as under the Jacobins.
However, the Directors often clashed with the legislative councils. Who then sought to dismiss
them? Thus, the Directory became the victim of political instability which paved the way for the r se
of Napoleon Bonaparte.

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