The French Revolution most important questions class 9 history ch 1

Q.1. What were the main causes of the French Revolution?

Ans. Causes of the French Revolution: (i) Despotic rule of Louis XVI: He became the ruler of France in 1774. He had drained the financial resources of France in wars. For the cost of his regular extravagant expenses, he increased taxes which were paid by the third estate. (ii) Division of French society: The French society was divided into three estates; first, second and third estates, respectively. Among them, First and Second Estates had 10 per cent of the total population and were the clergy and nobles. They enjoyed all privileges. Rest of the 90 per cent was of the third estate, which paid all kinds of direct or indirect taxes. This kind of discrimination led to the revolution by the third estate. (iii) Rising prices: The population of France had increased. This resulted into more demand of food grains. So the price of bread rose rapidly, which the poor could not afford to buy. So the gap between the rich and poor widened. (iv) Inspiration of the philosophers: Philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu propagated the ideas of having a society where people would enjoy freedom, equal laws and equal opportunities. Their ideas inspired the people of France to realise their dreams. (v) Role of middle class: The 18th century witnessed the emergence of social groups termed as middle class, who earned their wealth through an expanding trade of the manufactured goods, being exported. There were other professionals also like lawyers, administrative officials who were all educated. They believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth.

Q.1. What types of freedoms were granted to the citizens of France after French Revolution?

Ans. ● One important law that came into effect soon after the storming of the Bastille in the summer of 1789 was the abolition of censorship. ● In the old regime, all written material and cultural activities—books, newspapers, plays—could be published or performed only after they had been approved by the censors of the king. ● Now the declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right. ● Newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures flooded the towns of France from where they travelled rapidly into the countryside. They all described and discussed the events and changes taking place in France. ● Freedom of the press also meant that opposing views of events could be expressed. Each side sought to convince the others of its position through the medium of print. ● This was one way they would grasp and identify with ideas such as liberty or justice. Political philosophers wrote these texts in length, which only a handful of educated people could read.

Q.3.Who formed the Jacobin Club? What measures had he taken to remove discrimination in the French society and form a French Republic?

Ans. The Jacobin Club was formed by Maximilian Robespierre. The measures taken or adopted were: (i) Formation of political clubs: Large sections of the society were convinced that the revolution had to be carried further, as the Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections of the society. Political clubs became an important rallying point for people who wished to discuss government policies and plan their own forms of action. (ii) Members of the Jacobin Club: Its members were from less prosperous sections of society. They included small shopkeepers, artisans like shoemakers, pastry cooks, watch-makers and daily wage earners. A large number of members of the Jacobin Club decided to wear long striped trousers, to look apart. They also wore red caps to symbolise freedom. (iii) All citizens got the right to vote: On the morning of 10 August, 1792, Jacobins stormed the Palace of Tuileries, massacred the King’s guards and held the King hostage for several hours. Later, they voted to imprison the royal family. Then the assembly declared that elections would be held to form a government. All men above 21 years of age regardless of wealth got the right to vote. (iv) Declaration of France as a Republic: The newly elected assembly was called ‘Convention’. On 21 September, 1792, it abolished the monarchy and declared France as a Republic. Now people elected their government. There was no hereditary monarchy. (v) End of Monarchy: Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on the charges of betraying his own country. On 21 January, 1793, he was executed publicly at the Place de la Concorde. The queen, Marie Antoinette also met with the same fate.