Chapter 1 – Some Aspects of the French Revolution

Some Aspects of the French Revolution is an important chapter in WBBSE Class 9 History. Here, you will find Some Aspects of the French Revolution questions and answers arranged clearly to help you revise quickly and prepare better for your exams.

Content Structure

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
2. Very short-type questions and answers
- 2A. Fill in the blanks
- 2B. True or false
- 2C. Very short-type questions and answers
3. Short-type questions and answers
4. Analytical questions and answers
5. Explanatory questions and answers

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs) [1 marks each]

1. Which estate paid maximum taxes in France?
(a) First Estate
(b) Second Estate
(c) Third Estate
(d) None

Ans: (c) Third Estate

2. The prison attacked by the people of Paris on 14 July 1789 was –
(a) Versailles
(b) Louvre
(c) Bastille
(d) Tuileries

Ans: (c) Bastille

3. Who was the leader of the Jacobins?
(a) Danton
(b) Robespierre
(c) Mirabeau
(d) Marat

Ans: (b) Robespierre

4. The society of pre-revolutionary France was divided into –
(a) Two estates
(b) Three estates
(c) Four estates
(d) Five estates

Ans: (b) Three estates

5. The French Revolution began in the year –
(a) 1776
(b) 1789
(c) 1815
(d) 1848

Ans: (b) 1789

6. The First Estate consisted of –
(a) Peasants
(b) Nobility
(c) Clergy
(d) Workers

Ans: (c) Clergy

7. The famous slogan of the French Revolution was –
(a) Justice, Peace, Unity
(b) Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
(c) Freedom, Power, Law
(d) Truth, Peace, Order

Ans: (b) Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

8. Who was the King of France during the French Revolution?
(a) Louis XIV
(b) Louis XV
(c) Louis XVI
(d) Napoleon

Ans: (c) Louis XVI

9. The representatives of the Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath in –
(a) 1787
(b) 1788
(c) 1789
(d) 1792

Ans: (c) 1789

10. The wife of Louis XVI was –
(a) Marie Curie
(b) Marie Antoinette
(c) Joan of Arc
(d) Charlotte Corday

Ans: (b) Marie Antoinette

2. Very short-type questions and answers

2A. Fill in the blanks [1 marks each]

1. The ancient regime was based on a ____________ social structure. (feudal)
2. The Tennis Court Oath was taken in _____________. (1789)
3. The french monarchs were believes in __________.(divine right of kings)
4. The ___________ was enforced to check the soaring prices of goods.(Law of the Maximum)
5. The french revolution in its first phases was started by the ____________. (bourgeoisie)
6. __________ remarked, “Man is born free but everywhere he is bound by chains”. (Rousseau)
7. The state general in France met on 5 May, 1789 after a lonng lapse of _______ years. (175)
8. The tithe was a tax on ___________.(agricultural produce)

2B. True or false [1 marks each]

1. France participated in the American War of Independence. (True)
2. In 1789 the French constituent Assembly issued a declaration which abolished feudalism in France. (True)
3. The entire burden of taxation fell on the first estate in France. (False)
4. Calonne was the finance minister of France appointed by Louis XV.(False)
5. The sans culottes were urban workers and wage earners.(True)
6. The third estate of the States-General demanded the introduction of vote per order. (False)
7. Quesnay was the spokesman of the doctrine of Laissez faire. (True)
8. The tennis court oath was taken by the representatives of the first estate. (False)

2C. Very short-type questions and answers [1 marks each]

1. Who was the finance minister of France before the Revolution?
Ans: Calonne was the finance minister of France before the Revolution.

2. Which document declared the rights of the people?
Ans: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

3. When was the States-General summoned?
Ans: The States-General was summoned in 1789.

4. What is corvée?
Ans: Corvée was forced labour service paid by peasants to the state.

5. Who said, “After me the deluge”?
Ans: Louis XV said, “After me the deluge”.

6. What is tithe?
Ans: Tithe was a tax paid by peasants to the Church.

7. What was the Bastille?
Ans: The Bastille was a royal prison in Paris.

8. What was the States-General?
Ans: The States-General was the assembly of the three Estates of France.

9. What caused the fall of monarchy in France?
Ans: The threat of foreign invasion and internal revolt caused the fall of monarchy in France.

10. What was the period of rule of Louis XVI?
Ans: Louis XVI ruled from 1774 to 1792.

11. Why was the Bastille hated?
Ans: The Bastille was hated because it was a symbol of royal tyranny and despotism.

12. Name the ruling dynasty of France before the Revolution.
Ans: The Bourbon dynasty was the ruling dynasty of France before the French Revolution.

13. When was the Bastille attacked?
Ans: The Bastille was attacked on 14 July 1789.

14. Who were the Sans Culottes?
Ans: The Sans Culottes were the workers and artisans of Paris who supported the French Revolution.

15. Who was the leader of the Jacobins?
Ans: Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobin Club during the French Revolution.

3. Short-type questions and answers [2 marks each]

1. What is indirect tax?
Ans: An indirect tax is a tax paid on goods and services instead of directly on income. It is paid by the consumers while buying goods, such as sales tax, customs duty, and excise duty.

2. Who was Necker?
Ans: Necker was the finance minister of France before the French Revolution. He made serious efforts to improve the financial condition of the country and reduce economic difficulties.

3. How did the French kings consider themselves?
Ans: The French kings considered themselves the representatives of God on earth. They believed in the divine right of kings, which meant that their authority came from God and should not be questioned by the people.

4. Who said, the king was the creation of the society?
Ans: Rousseau said that the king was the creation of society. He believed that people had the right to choose their rulers and supported popular sovereignty.

5. Who was Calonne?
Ans: Calonne was the finance minister of France under King Louis XVI. He proposed financial reforms to solve the economic crisis and summoned the Assembly of Notables to get approval for his plans.

6. When was King Louis XVI executed?
Ans: King Louis XVI was executed on 21 January 1793 by the guillotine. His execution marked the end of monarchy in France.

7. Who was Turgot?
Ans: Turgot was the finance minister of France before the Revolution. He introduced several economic reforms to reduce taxes and improve the financial condition of the state.

8. Who was Montesquieu?
Ans: Montesquieu was a French philosopher and political thinker. He introduced the theory of separation of powers, which influenced the development of modern democratic governments.

9. What is ‘Assembly of Notables’?
Ans: The Assembly of Notables was a special council of nobles and clergy called by the king. It was formed to discuss and approve new taxes and financial reforms to solve the financial crisis of France.

10. Who was Rousseau?
Ans: Rousseau was a famous French philosopher and political thinker. He believed in popular sovereignty and equality, and his ideas greatly inspired the people during the French Revolution.

4. Analytical questions and answers [4 marks each]

1. Why the philosophers against French absolutism and Fiscal policies?
Ans: French philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu strongly opposed absolute monarchy and the divine right theory of kings. They criticised the despotic rule of the king and the unjust fiscal policies which placed a heavy tax burden on the common people. They believed in liberty, equality, justice, and popular sovereignty through their writings and ideas, they spread democratic and revolutionary thoughts among the people and inspired them to oppose tyranny and injustice, which helped in the growth of the French Revolution.

2. Analyse the taxation system of the pre-revolutionary France.
Ans: The taxation system of pre-revolutionary France was highly unjust and unequal. The clergy and nobility enjoyed special privileges and were exempted from most taxes, while the Third Estate had to bear the main burden of taxation. The common people paid heavy taxes such as taille, tithe, gabelle, and various indirect taxes. In addition, peasants had to pay feudal dues and perform forced labour for the landlords. This heavy tax burden caused poverty, hardship, and great anger among the people, which finally became one of the main causes of the French Revolution.

3. Write in brief about the National Constituent Assembly.
Ans: The National Constituent Assembly was formed in 1789 by the representatives of the Third Estate after taking the Tennis Court Oath. Its main aim was to frame a constitution for France and to establish a new political system based on liberty and equality. The Assembly abolished feudal privileges, ended the special rights of the clergy and nobility, and introduced the principles of equality before law. It also worked to establish constitutional monarchy and protect the rights of citizens. Thus, the National Constituent Assembly played an important role in shaping the course of the French Revolution.

4. What was the position of the bourgeoisie in French society?
Ans: The bourgeoisie belonged to the Third Estate and included merchants, lawyers, doctors, and educated professionals. They were economically well-off and educated, but they had no political power and social privileges. They were unhappy with this unfair system and demanded equality and political rights. Therefore, the bourgeoisie played an important role in spreading revolutionary ideas and leading the French Revolution.

5. What were the democratic rights of citizens?
Ans: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed several democratic rights of the people. It guaranteed equality before law and freedom of speech, religion, and press. It also declared the right to property and protection from arbitrary arrest. The declaration emphasized popular sovereignty, meaning that political power should rest with the people. These rights laid the foundation of modern democratic principles in France.

6. What was the ‘Tennis Court Oath’?
Ans: On 20 June 1789, the members of the Third Estate assembled in a tennis court at Versailles and took an oath. They pledged not to separate until a constitution was framed for France. This oath showed their determination to bring political reforms and end absolute monarchy. The Tennis Court Oath marked the beginning of organized revolutionary movement in France.

7. How did economic thinkers criticize the French economic policy?
Ans: The economic thinkers of France strongly criticised the faulty economic policies of the government. They opposed heavy taxation, strict state control, and restrictions on trade, which created hardship for the common people. They supported free trade, development of agriculture, and reduction of taxes. They demanded economic reforms to improve the financial condition of the country and reduce the sufferings of the people. Their ideas helped to spread awareness and increased dissatisfaction against the existing system.

8. How far were the Bourbon monarchs responsible for the outbreak of the French Revolution?
Ans: The Bourbon monarchs, especially Louis XV and Louis XVI, were largely responsible for the outbreak of the French Revolution. They were inefficient, weak, and extravagant rulers. Their wasteful expenditure, costly wars, and poor administration created a serious financial crisis in France. They failed to introduce necessary reforms and continued to support an unjust taxation system, which increased the suffering of the common people. This led to public anger and dissatisfaction, which finally resulted in the French Revolution.

9. What was the role of Voltaire in the outbreak of the French Revolution?
Ans: Voltaire was a famous French philosopher and writer. He strongly criticised absolute monarchy, the domination of the Church, and social injustice. He supported freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and individual liberty. His books and writings spread new ideas among the people and made them aware of their rights. His ideas encouraged people to oppose tyranny and injustice, which helped in the outbreak of the French Revolution.

10. What was the influence of the Glorious Revolution and the American War of Independence on the outbreak of the French Revolution?
Ans: The Glorious Revolution of England (1688) established constitutional monarchy and parliamentary government, which showed that a king’s power could be limited. The American War of Independence (1776) promoted the ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy. These two events greatly inspired the French people to demand political rights, freedom, and equality. The success of these movements encouraged the people of France to rise against absolute monarchy and injustice, which helped in the outbreak of the French Revolution.

5. Explanatory questions and answers [8 marks each]

1. What were the main causes of the French Revolution?
Ans: The main causes of the French Revolution were as follows:

Influence of other revolutions: The American War of Independence and the Glorious Revolution inspired the French people to fight for rights and freedom.
Social inequality: French society was divided into three Estates. The clergy and nobility enjoyed privileges, while the Third Estate suffered from injustice and inequality.
Unjust taxation system: The Third Estate paid heavy taxes, whereas the privileged classes paid little or no tax, which caused great suffering and anger.
Absolute monarchy: The king ruled as an absolute ruler and believed in the divine right of kings. The people had no political rights.
Economic hardship and poverty: Heavy taxes, bad harvests, food shortage, and rising prices created severe hardship for common people.
Financial crisis of the state: Extravagant spending by kings and costly wars led France into bankruptcy and debt.
Failure of reforms: The Bourbon kings failed to introduce necessary reforms, which increased public dissatisfaction.
Influence of philosophers: Thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu spread ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy, inspiring people to oppose tyranny.

2. What was the main conflict of the Royalty with the third estate in France? Discuss about the effect of the conflict?
Ans: The main conflict between the royalty and the Third Estate in France was over taxation and political rights. The king and the privileged classes imposed heavy taxes on the Third Estate, while the clergy and nobility were free from most taxes. This created great suffering and anger among the common people.

The Third Estate also demanded equal political representation and voting by head, but the king supported voting by estate, which favoured the clergy and nobility. When the king tried to suppress their demands by force, the conflict became more serious.

This conflict led to the formation of the National Assembly and the taking of the Tennis Court Oath. Finally, it resulted in the outbreak of the French Revolution, which ended absolute monarchy and established the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity in France.

3. What was the role of women in the French Revolution?
Ans: Women played a very important role in the French Revolution. They took part in political meetings, street protests, and revolutionary clubs. In October 1789, a large group of women marched to Versailles and forced the king to return to Paris, which was an important event. Women demanded bread, equality, education, and political rights. Leaders like Olympe de Gouges spoke for women’s rights and wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman. Their active participation made the revolutionary movement stronger, even though they did not receive equal political rights.

4. Write briefly about the Jacobins and the Girondists.
Ans: The Jacobins and the Girondists were two important political groups during the French Revolution. The Girondists were moderate leaders who mainly represented the middle class. They supported a constitutional form of government and opposed extreme and violent actions. On the other hand, the Jacobins were radical revolutionaries led by Robespierre. They supported republican government, equality, control of prices, and strict punishment of the enemies of the Revolution. The Jacobins came to power in 1793 and introduced the Reign of Terror. However, their harsh rule finally led to their downfall.

5. Describe the social system of France.
Ans: French society was divided into three Estates – the First Estate, the Second Estate, and the Third Estate.

The First Estate included the clergy. They held an important position in society and enjoyed many privileges. They owned large areas of land and paid very little or no tax.
The Second Estate included the nobility. They were rich landowners and held high government and military posts. They also enjoyed special privileges and were mostly free from taxes.
The Third Estate included peasants, workers, artisans, and the middle class. They formed the largest section of the population. They had to pay heavy taxes and feudal dues, and they had no political rights or social privileges. Their life was full of hardship and suffering.

This unequal social system created great anger and dissatisfaction among the common people, which finally led to the outbreak of the French Revolution.