Class 9
Social Science - History
Chapter-1 (The French Revolution)
NOTE: Do Questions- Answers in your notebook.
1. What do you understand by the term “Reign of Terror’?
Ans. 1.The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as reign of terror.
2. Robespierre followed the policy of severe control and punishment.
All those who were regarded as the enemy of the republic were arrested and tried by
tribunal. If found guilty they were guillotined.
2. What role did women play during the revolutionary years?
Ans.1. From the very beginning women were active participant in the events which brought
about so many important changes in French society.
2. In order to discuss and voice their interests women started their own political clubs and
newspapers.
3. About sixty women’s club came up in different French Cities. The Society of revolutionary
and Republican women was the most famous clubs.
3. What types of taxes were paid by the third estate in France?
Ans. 1.Nobles enjoyed feudal privileges.
2. Peasants were obliged to work in their houses and fields, to serve in the army and build
roads.
3. Peasants paid a tax called tithes to the church.
4. The third estate paid a direct tax called taille.
5. In direct tax on salt and tobacco were also levied.
4. How did France saw the subsistence crises during the old regime?
Ans. 1. The rapid increase in population from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789 led
to rapid increase in the demand for food grains.
2. Production of food grains could not keep pace with the demand.
3. Price of bread was increased. Wages also did not keep pace with the rise of prices.
4. The gap between poor and rich widened.
5. What do you know about the Estates General?
Ans. 1. The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates sent
their representatives.
2. In France of the Old Regime, the monarch did not have the power to impose taxes; rather
he had to call a meeting of the Estate General to pass the proposals for new taxes.
3. However it was the monarch alone who could decide when to call a meeting of this body.
7. Name some symbols used during French Revolution and what do they stand for?
Ans. 1. The broken chain: Chains were used to fetter slaves. A broken chain stands for the
act of becoming free.
2. The Bundle of rods or fasces: One rod can be easily broken, but not an entire bundle.
Strength lies in unity.
3. The eye within a triangle radiating light: The all-seeing eye stands for knowledge. The
easy of the sun will drive away the clouds of ignorance.
8. How did France become a constitutional monarchy?
Ans. 1. The national Assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791.
2. Its main object was to limit the powers of the monarch.
3. The powers instead of being concentrated in the hands of one person were now
separated and assigned to different institutions- the legislature, executive and judiciary.
This made France a constitutional monarchy.
9. Explain three teaching of Rousseau which laid the foundations of democracy?
Ans. 1. He believed that government should be based on the consent of the governed.
2. He stated that people are the real sovereigns and kings rule only with their consent.
3. His famous book Social Contract tells us about a contract between the rulers and the ruled
whereby the former would guarantee the freedom and happiness.
10. Write three main features of the French Constitution of 1971.
Answer:
• Powers of the National Assembly: The Constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the
National Assembly, which was indirectly elected. That is, citizens voted for a group of electors, who
in turn chose the Assembly.
• Right to Vote: Not all citizens, however, had the right to vote. Only men above 25 years of age who
paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer’s wage were given the status of active citizens, that is
they were entitled to vote. The remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens.
• Basic Rights: All the citizens were given some basic rights such as right to life, freedom of speech,
freedom of opinion, equality before law. It was the duty of the state to protect each citizen’s natural
rights.
