WORKSHEET 2, 2023 - 24

Grade IX – History
Chapter – 1 The French Revolution
Answer key
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. In which year was the Bastille Prison was stormed and why?
2. Name the ruler that came to power and in which year?
3. State the immediate cause of French revolution.
4. Give the titles of the books written by : (a) Rousseau (b) Charles Montesquieu (c) John Locke
5. ‘The National Assembly completed the draft of the Constitution in 1791’. Mention any two features
of the Constitution.
6. Differentiate between active and passive citizens.
Note: Do it yourself

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Mention the three estates of French society. Explain in detail.

Ans- The French society in the 18th century was structured as follows:
1.French society was divided into three classes known as Estates with the First Estate being the clergy,
the Second Estate being the nobility and the Third Estate, which included the rest of the society
consisting of peasants and the middle-class merchants and professionals.
2.The First and the Second Estate formed the privileged classes. They owned most of the land
even though they were only a tiny fraction of the French population, all the important posts of the
state were held by them and they were exempted from paying taxes.
3.The Third Estate, on the other hand, received no privileges. They were heavily taxed by the state
and were imprisoned if they did not pay the tax. The merchants and professionals of the
middle classes were denied social equality and political rights.
2. Mention the reasons that compelled Louis XVI to raise taxes in France. State the role of
middle classes in ending the privileges.
Ans- 1.Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France.
2.High cost of maintenance of immense palace of Versailles and court.
3. Under Louis XVI France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain independence.
4. War added to a debt.
5.Lenders began to barge high interest on loans.
1.The 18th century witnessed the emergence of social groups termed as middle class who earned their
wealth through an expanding overseas trade and from manufacturing goods and exporting them. In
addition to merchants and manufacturers, the Third estate included professions such as that of
lawyers or administrative officials. All of these were educated and believed that no group in society
should be privileged by birth. Rather, a person’s social position must depend on his merit.
3. Give reasons as to why was the national assembly formed by the people of the Third
Estate.
Ans- 1 .Louis XVI called together an assembly of the Estates General on 5th May, 1789 to pass
proposals for new taxes.
2.The first and second estates sent 300 representatives each, while third estate sent 600 members.
3. Louis XVI wanted to continue with old voting system in which each estate had one vote.
But members of third estate wanted a new voting system, where each member have one vote.
4.But the king rejected their proposal and on 20th June, 1789 third estate declared themselves
as National Assembly.
4. Mention the laws which were made to improve the status of women in the French society?
Ans- The revolutionary government in the early years introduced several laws to improve the
condition of women in France:
1. State schools were created and schooling was made compulsory for all girls.
2. Women could no longer be forced to marry against their wishes.
3. Marriage was made into a contract, entered into freely and registered under civil law.
4. Divorce was made legal and could be applied for by both women and men.
5. Women could now train for jobs, could become artists or run small businesses.
 5. Between which three continents triangular slave trade was held? Also write the conditions
of slave during French revolution.
Ans- The slave trade began in the seventeenth century.
1. A triangular slave trade was between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
2. The colonies in the Caribbean – Martinique, Guadeloupe and San Domingo – were important
suppliers of commodities such as tobacco, indigo, sugar and coffee. .
3. French merchants sailed from the ports of Bordeaux or Nantes to the African coast, where they
bought slaves from local chieftains.
4. The exploitation of slave labour made it possible to meet the markets for sugar, coffee, and indigo.
5. Port cities like Bordeaux and Nantes owed their economic prosperity to the flourishing slave trade.

6. Describe the measures adopted by Napoleon for the French people.

Ans- Napoleon introduced the following changes to make the administrative system more efficient
in the areas ruled by him:
1. He established civil code in 1804 also known as the Napoleonic Code. It did away with all
privileges based on birth. It established equality before the law and secured the right to property.
2.He simplified administrative divisions, the abolished feudal system, and freed peasants
from serfdom and manorial dues.
3. In towns too, guild systems were removed.
4.Transport and communication systems were improved.
5.Peasants, artisans, businessmen and workers enjoyed the newfound freedom.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Enumerate the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.

Ans- The circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France were:
1.Social Inequality: French society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates namely The
Clergy, The nobility and third estates which comprise peasants, officials and small business. It was only
third estates that pay taxes. Clergy and nobility were exempt from taxes.
2.Subsistence Crisis: The population of France also increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.
Food grains were now in great demand. Price of bread shot up. Wages did not keep pace with rising prices.
This led to subsistence crisis.
Economic Problems: Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. France had a debt of
more than 2 billion livres. To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court,
running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase taxes.
Strong Middle Class: The middle class emerged educated and wealthy during the eighteenth century. They
believed that no group in society should be given privileges by birth. Ideas of equality and freedom were put
forward by philosophers. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee
houses and spread among people.
Immediate Causes: On 5 may, 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of Estates General to pass
proposals for new taxes. Third estates protested against this proposal but as each estate have one vote, the
king rejected this appeal. They walked out of the assembly.
2. Elaborate the role of women in French Revolution with the example.
Ans- The role of women in France during the revolutionary years were:
(i) Women started their own political clubs and newspapers.
(ii) They demanded the right to vote.
(iii) They demanded to be elected to the Assembly and to hold political office.
(iv) The revolutionary Government introduced some laws for women.
(v) During the 'Reign of Terror', new Government ordered to close women's clubs and ban political
activities.
(vi) women's movement for voting right continued through next two hundred years.
(vii) Women's struggle for equal political rights continued during the 'Reign of Terror'. The
government banned their clubs and political activities. Many women got arrested. It was in 1946 that
many women got the right to vote.

3. Explain features of the constitution of 1791, framed by the National Assembly in France.
 Ans- The main features of the French constitution of 1791 are:

1. The feudal system was abolished and limited the powers of the king.
2. The king came under the supervision of the government, and France became a constitutional
monarchy.
3. The nobles and the clergy were stripped – off of their privileges.
4. Taxes collected by the church were abolished, and the lands owned by the church were confiscated.
5. Power to make laws was vested in the hands of the national assembly.
6. Powers were distributed among – the judiciary, the executive, and the legislature.

4. Draw up the list of democratic rights we enjoy today and whose origins could be
traced to the French Revolution.
Ans- Some of the democratic rights which we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French
Revolution are given in the Indian Constitution. They are
1.Right to Equality: The Right to Equality has its origin in the French Revolution. In the Indian
Constitution, Right to Equality means equality before law, prohibition of discrimination and equality
of opportunity in matters of employment.
2.Right to Liberty or Freedom: The origin of this right can also be traced to the French Revolution. In
the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, Right to Liberty or Freedom means 'freedom of thought,
expression, belief, faith and worship’.
3.Encouraging the Spirit of Fraternity: The French Revolution introduced the growth of the spirit
of fraternity and social welfare.In the Indian Constitution, the concept of 'fraternity abolishes
untouchability and local or provincial anti-social feelings.
4.Inspiring the Spirit of Democracy, The French Revolution inspired the spirit of democracy
which ensured many rights, viz., right against exploitation, right to life, right to vote etc, which we
are enjoying today.

5. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Ans- 1.The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution.
2.These spread from France to the rest of Europe during the nineteenth century, where feudal
systems were abolished.
3. It inspired the Germans, Italians, and Austrians to overthrow their oppressive regimes.
4. The French Revolution inspired the struggling nations of Asia and Africa who were groaning under
the oppression of European colonialism.
5.Tipu Sultan and Rajaram Mohan Roy are two examples of individuals who responded to
ideas coming from the French revolution.
Map Work
Locate and label the following items on the given map with appropriate symbols.
1.Name the capital of France. 2.The ports of France enriched due to Slave Trade
3.The European countries which share common boundaries with France.