Class 9 Social Science French Revolution Exam Notes

This CBSE Class 9 Social Science exam notes page on the French Revolution covers the Ancient Regime and its crisis, the economic, social, political and philosophical causes of the revolution, the course of events from the Tennis Court Oath and the storming of the Bastille to the Reign of Terror and the Directory, the abolition of slavery, the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the impact of the revolution on France and the world. It also gives the glossary, important dates and personalities, and the exercise questions with answers.

INTRODUCTION

The later part of the eighteenth century saw one of the greatest revolutions, which played an important role in the making of the modern world.

The Renaissance in Europe had brought about intellectual freedom and also gave birth to a chain of revolutions, especially in Europe, which destroyed the age-old feudal order and prepared the ground for the development of an industrial society. It gave to the world the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity, and opened the floodgates for the development of an open society.

THE ANCIENT REGIME AND ITS CRISIS

The term 'Old Regime' is usually used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789. The French Revolution had been building up for many years. The peasant worked from dawn to dusk on land owned by the local lords. Taxes were very high because of the wars that France had fought in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and because of the extravagance of Louis XIV and Louis XV.

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

1. Economic Crisis
The Seven Years War was fought from 1756 to 1763. The war was fought between Austria, Sweden, Russia and Spain on one side, and Prussia, Britain and Hanover on the other side. The war had a deep impact on the economy of France. There was no alternative for the king except to levy heavy taxes.

2. Excessive Taxation
(i) Before the revolution, the common people were groaning under the burden of heavy taxes.
(ii) The system of taxation was unjust and unreasonable. The upper classes, which consisted of the nobles and the church fathers, were exempted from all sorts of taxes. The burden of taxation was passed on to the masses, whose life was one of misery, starvation and humiliation.
(iii) The expenditure of the government was ever increasing on account of useless wars and the extravagance of rulers.
(iv) With every increase in the demand for money, fresh taxes were imposed on the common people.
(v) People were forced to pay all kinds of taxes. There was the land tax, the road tax, the toll tax, the church tax, the salt tax and the tariff duties charged for moving goods from one province to another, up or down or across a river, and so on. Sometimes four-fifths of the total income of a farmer would go towards the payment of taxes.
(vi) The taxes were the taille, the direct land tax; the salt tax known as gabelle; feudal dues or payments taken by the nobility; and the tithe taken by the church.

3. Social Disparity
In the seventeenth century the French society was divided into three groups called estates:
(i) The First Estate: It consisted of the clergymen and church fathers, who were the custodians of religion and conscience of man and the most venerated persons in society.
(ii) The Second Estate: It consisted of landlords, men of noble birth and aristocrats.
(iii) The Third Estate: It consisted of the vast majority of the common masses, including the landless peasants, petty peasant proprietors, artisans, masons, craftsmen, manufacturers, traders, merchants and other businessmen.

 

[Figure: Three columns. First Estate: clergymen and church fathers; no taxes and all privileges; minority group. Second Estate: landlords, aristocrats and men of noble birth; this class also shared most of the privileges; minority group. Third Estate: common masses; lived in poverty and misery and paid all the taxes; majority group.]

Out of the total population, the First and the Second Estates had a share of 2%. The remaining 98% of the people belonged to the Third Estate. Although the upper two classes made up only a small fraction of the total population, they controlled the political and economic system of the nation. They enjoyed all the rights and privileges. The entire machinery of the government was designed to protect their interests and privileges. They owned two-fifths of the total land. The nobles and the upper clergy occupied all the important positions in the king's court and drew heavy salaries and pensions. The people belonging to the Third Estate did not enjoy any political rights. They were even denied the right to protection of life. The gulf between the rich and the poor was so wide that a handful of nobles and clergy got all the money, while the poor masses did all the work.

4. The Rise of the Middle Class
(i) The spread of the industrial revolution led to the emergence of the middle class. It was the class of businessmen, traders, bankers, manufacturers, scholars, etc.
(ii) The middle class people became the leaders of the revolution.
(iii) They came forward with the slogan of liberty, equality and fraternity.
(iv) They were now determined to get rid of the feudal system. They realised that so long as the feudal system prevailed, the French society had no chance of moving forward on the road to prosperity and plenty, as the feudal barriers were a serious obstruction to the growth of industrial capitalism.

5. Influence of the Philosophers and Writers
There were many French philosophers and thinkers like Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire and Mirabeau who exposed the evils prevailing in the system. They infused people with the ideal of liberty, equality and fraternity.
1. Charles de Montesquieu: A nobleman by birth, he became a lawyer and a judge. In his book, "The Spirit of Laws", he criticised autocracy and praised the democratic republic.
2. Francois Marie Arouet (Voltaire): Voltaire was another outstanding philosopher of the revolution. He wanted people to think about their material life on earth and forget about heaven. He condemned the Church, which supported the privileged class and ignored the poor.
3. Jean Jacques Rousseau: Rousseau is regarded as the architect of the French Revolution. He gave the slogan "Man was born free, yet he is everywhere in chains". In the famous book, "The Social Contract", he argued that government was the result of a social contract between the people on the one hand and the ruler on the other. So if the ruler did not fulfil the contract, the people had the right to withdraw their loyalty and bring down the tyranny of the ruler by revolting.

6. Political Causes
(i) The political structure of the French state was highly unpopular with the people, who were burdened with heavy taxes and insecure conditions of life and property.
(ii) The divine right of kings, despotism and tyranny of the French monarchs, topped by the extravagance and inefficiency of the Bourbon kings.
(iii) Louis XV indulged in a life of ease and pleasure and was not interested in administrative reforms or the welfare of the people.
(iv) Louis XVI, though good natured, was completely under the influence of incompetent and corrupt ministers and a domineering queen, Marie Antoinette.
(v) Absence of any representative body to voice the needs of the people. The local bodies called Parliament were courts of justice rather than the voice of the people.

THE COURSE OF THE REVOLUTION

In 1789 the French government found itself in the grip of a huge financial crisis. King Louis XVI summoned a meeting of the Estates General to get their consent to impose new taxes. During that period there were three estates. The First and the Second Estates consisted of the upper class, and the Third Estate was of the commoners. The commoners (Third Estate) were in the majority. They demanded that the matters before the assembly should be decided by a majority of votes, but the other two estates were against this.

(a) The Tennis Court Oath
Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to the principle that each estate had one vote. Members of the Third Estate demanded that voting now be conducted by the assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote. When the king rejected this proposal, members of the Third Estate walked out of the assembly in protest.
The representatives of the Third Estate, on June 20, 1789, assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of Versailles. They declared themselves a National Assembly and swore not to disperse till they had drafted a constitution for France that would limit the powers of the monarch. While the National Assembly was busy at Versailles, the rest of France seethed with turmoil. On 14 July the agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille.

(b) Storming of the Bastille
On the morning of July 14, 1789, the city of Paris was in a state of alarm. A severe winter had meant a bad harvest, and the price of bread rose. Bakers exploited the situation and hoarded supplies. Crowds of angry women stormed into the shops.
The army was ordered by the king to move into the city. It was rumoured that the army would be ordered to open fire upon the citizens. Thousands of persons gathered and decided to form a people's militia. They broke into a number of government buildings in search of arms. The Bastille was a dreaded fortress-prison. It was hated by all because it stood for the despotic power of the king. Protestors stormed into the Bastille in search of arms. The commander of the Bastille was killed. The prisoners were released. The fortress was demolished.
Louis XVI finally accorded recognition to the National Assembly and accepted the principle that his powers would from now on be checked by a constitution. On the night of 4 August 1789, the Assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes.

(c) France becomes a Constitutional Monarchy
(i) The National Assembly completed the drafting of the constitution in 1791. Power was now separated and assigned to different institutions, the legislature, executive and judiciary, making France a constitutional monarchy.
(ii) The Constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly, which was indirectly elected.
(iii) The constitution began with a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and equality before law were established as 'natural and inalienable' rights.

IMPACT OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The French Revolution is one of the most important events in world history. After the revolution the Republic of France was established, and liberty, fraternity and equality became its guiding principles. With the fall of the Bastille, the National Assembly became the supreme power in France. The serfs were set free. The system of forced labour was stopped. Every citizen was given political and economic rights. The Church was taken over by the State.

In keeping with the slogan of the revolution, "Liberty, equality, fraternity", the National Assembly made its famous 'Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen'. Some of the rights mentioned were:
(a) All men were born free and have equal rights.
(b) All men would have freedom of speech and expression.
(c) Nobody should be punished without a fair and proper trial in a court of law.
(d) The government would be responsible to the people for all its actions.

The revolution brought the following major changes in France:
(i) It brought an end to absolute monarchy.
(ii) It spread the spirit of nationalism and democracy.
(iii) All were given equal rights without discrimination.

A new constitution of revolutionary France was framed. It was based on the principles of democracy. The king was reduced to the position of a nominal head of the state. Out of fear, the king and the queen tried to escape from France in disguise, but they were arrested and brought back as prisoners. The Old National Assembly was replaced by a new one. The king and the queen were tried and executed in 1793.

(A) The Reign of Terror
The period between 1793 and 1794 is referred to as the 'Reign of Terror'.
(i) During this period Robespierre, who was the head of the government of France, followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
(ii) Ex-nobles and clergy, and even members of his own party who did not agree with his methods, were arrested, imprisoned and then guillotined.
(iii) France witnessed the guillotining of thousands of nobles and innocent men who supported the monarchy.
(iv) Robespierre issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on prices. Churches were shut down.
(v) Finally, Robespierre was guillotined in July 1794.

(B) A Directory Rules France
The Reign of Terror ended in 1794. The Jacobin government fell, and a new constitution was prepared by an elected convention, providing for a republican form of government with a legislature and an executive body called the Directory. The Directory was an executive made up of five members. Directors often clashed with the legislative councils, which then sought to dismiss them. The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of a military dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Reorganisation of the Church
It led to the nationalisation of Church property. The Assembly confiscated all the endowment lands of the Church. The Church was reorganised.

Reorganisation of the Administration
France followed the principle of decentralisation of powers. The administration was reorganised into departments. The old provinces were abolished. Each department was divided into districts, cantons and communes. Thus France was unified and given a certain amount of local self-government.

The Abolition of Slavery
(i) Slavery was rampant in the European colonies of the Caribbean and the Americas. The slaves were mostly used on sugar, coffee, indigo and tobacco plantations. Their demand was because of their availability and low costs.
(ii) In a debate in the Constituent Assembly in October 1790, to safeguard the commercial interests of planters, two parties holding opposite views emerged. The group that safeguarded the planters' interests but pledged to maintain order in the colonies came up around the Massiac Club, founded in August 1789. Their adversaries were the Society of the Friends of the Blacks, founded in 1783. The outcome of the debate was that it drew attention to the condition of slaves and sowed seeds of future political divisions.
(iii) On February 4, 1794, the Convention (National Assembly) ended slavery in the French colonies. Napoleon Bonaparte revoked the decree in 1802. Slavery was finally abolished from the French colonies in 1848.

RISE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte was also an indirect result of the French Revolution. As often happens in revolutions, there was political and economic instability in France, and there was a struggle for power. Napoleon took advantage of the situation and became a dictator with the help of the army. In 1804 he declared himself the Emperor of France. He was a brilliant general and used his armies to conquer and dominate the neighbouring countries, except Britain and Russia. However, his successes were short-lived. Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia jointly defeated him at Leipzig and again at Waterloo in 1815. He was captured and sent as a prisoner to the island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821.

Impact on the World
The French Revolution had a far-reaching impact, not only on France but on the whole world.
1. It marked the end of feudalism and brought in a new era of industrial capitalism.
2. Slogans of liberty, equality and fraternity found an echo in every part of Europe during the nineteenth century, and there was a chain of revolutions one after another.
3. The Declaration of the Rights of Man is the most famous charter of liberty in the whole world. It laid the foundation of a new social order based on liberty, equality and fraternity (brotherhood of man). It became the guiding star of future revolutions in almost all the countries of Europe.
4. The French Revolution also acted as a guiding force for the people of colonies, like that of India.

GLOSSARY

1. Nation: People who share a language, culture, customs and history, a group united into a large political, economic and social unit which recognises no law or authority above its own, i.e., it is sovereign in nature.
2. Nationalism: A feeling of intense loyalty and devotion to one's country.
3. Revolution: The term means a recognised momentous change in any situation. A revolution can result in the sudden overthrow of an established government or system by force and bloodshed, e.g., the French Revolution. It can also be a great change that comes slowly and peacefully, e.g., the Industrial Revolution.
4. First Estate: French society was divided into classes called estates. The First Estate consisted of the clergy, who held vast land and wealth and were exempt from taxation.
5. Second Estate: It consisted of the aristocracy, who controlled all the top positions in the government, parliament and in the army and navy. They were also exempt from taxation and led an extravagant life.
6. Third Estate: This comprised everyone who was neither nobility nor clergy and constituted 98% of the population. Town dwellers, the wealthy upper middle class (merchants, bankers, doctors, lawyers), the lower middle class, craftsmen, shopkeepers and peasants comprised the Third Estate. This class lacked political power and social position and was heavily taxed, though there were many differences in their wealth and style of living.
7. The Declaration of the 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. Proposed by Lafayette and based on the ideas of Locke, Montesquieu and Jefferson, this document stated that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights" and that the "source of power resides in the people". It guaranteed all Frenchmen the basic rights of liberty, security, equal justice, fair taxes, speech, religion and thought.
8. Physiocrats: The French economists were called physiocrats. They believed that taxes should be imposed only with the consent of those on whom they are levied. Their beliefs undermined the feudal rights and privileges of the upper classes.
9. Livre: Unit of currency used in France till 1794.
10. Clergy: Group of persons invested with special functions in the Church.
11. Tithe: A tax levied by the Church equal to one-tenth of the agricultural produce.
12. Taille: Tax paid directly to the state.
13. Chateau: Castle belonging to a king or nobleman.
14. Manor: An estate consisting of the lord's lands and his mansion.
15. Sceptre: Symbol of royal power.
16. Negroes: A term used for the indigenous people of Africa, south of the Sahara. It is a derogatory term and is not now commonly used.

IMPORTANT DATES

1774: Louis XVI becomes King of France.
1789: The Third Estate forms the National Assembly. The Bastille is stormed.
1791: A constitution is framed to limit the powers of the king and to guarantee the basic rights to all human beings.
1792-93: France becomes a republic. The king is executed. The Jacobin Republic is overthrown, and a Directory rules France.
1804: Napoleon becomes Emperor of France.
1815: Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo.
1848: Slavery is abolished in all French colonies.
1946: French women get the right to vote.

IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES

1. Maximilien Robespierre
Leader of the Jacobin Club, whose policies led to the Reign of Terror. In 1794, he was convicted and sent to the guillotine.

2. Napoleon Bonaparte
The military dictator of France who conquered many European countries. He was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

3. Olympe de Gouges
One of the most important politically active women revolutionaries in France. In 1791, she wrote a Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen. Critical of the Jacobin government, she was charged with treason and executed.

4. Louis XVI
The King of France when the revolution occurred was a man of average intelligence who disliked any kind of brain work. He staunchly believed in the divine right of kings and was completely unaware of the new ideas that were sweeping across his country, and oblivious to the needs and fears of his subjects. He was obsessed with his beautiful wife and wasted money on festivities. He drove France into useless wars, bringing the country to the verge of bankruptcy.

5. Montesquieu
A French thinker and author of the book 'The Spirit of Laws'. He believed that executive, legislative and judicial powers should not be concentrated in one person, as it led to tyrannical rule. He stressed the principle of separation of powers and individual liberty.

6. Jean Jacques Rousseau
His writings played a significant role in bringing about the French Revolution and encouraged people to fight for their rights. He believed that government should be based on the consent of the governed. His most famous work, 'The Social Contract', talks of a contract between the ruler and the ruled, whereby the former would guarantee the freedom and happiness of his subjects. Implied in his writings was the belief that men had a right to change their government if they were not satisfied.

7. Voltaire
A famous and influential French writer, he stressed religious toleration and freedom of speech. He is credited with the famous statement on free speech: "I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". He savagely attacked all things he considered sham or superstition and was a vehement critic of the Catholic Church.

EXERCISE

A. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 What do you understand by the word 'Revolution' ? For what kind of situations can the term Revolution be used ?

Answer: Revolution means a recognised momentous change in any situation. It can be a sudden overthrow of an established government or system by force and bloodshed, as in the French Revolution. It can also be a great change that comes slowly and peacefully, as in the Industrial Revolution. The term can be used for any situation in which a major and lasting change takes place.

Teacher's Note:
a) A revolution is a major change, not just a small reform.
b) Sudden violent change and slow peaceful change are both called revolutions.

Q.2 Mention two activities of the French monarchy which hastened the Revolution.

Answer:
1. The kings spent huge sums on useless wars, such as the Seven Years War, and on the luxurious life of the court.
2. The monarchy imposed heavy and unjust taxes on the common people to fill the empty treasury.

Teacher's Note:
a) Financial crisis was the immediate trigger for the Estates General.
b) Taxes fell mostly on the Third Estate, which had no privileges.

Q.3 Name the three main social classes in 18th Century France.

Answer:
1. First Estate: the clergy.
2. Second Estate: the nobles and aristocrats.
3. Third Estate: the common masses, including peasants, artisans and the middle class.

Teacher's Note:
a) The first two estates were privileged, and the third was not.

Q.4 What were the conditions of the third estate ?

Answer: The Third Estate formed 98% of the population. It lived in poverty and misery, paid almost all the taxes, and had no political rights or privileges. Its members were even denied the protection of life, and they had to do the hard work of the country.

Teacher's Note:
a) Most of the taxes were paid by people who had the least wealth.
b) The Third Estate included peasants, artisans and the rising middle class.

Q.5 Who was Rousseau ? Name the famous work by Rousseau which lays down the main principles of democracy.

Answer: Rousseau was a French philosopher, regarded as the architect of the French Revolution. His famous work which lays down the main principles of democracy is 'The Social Contract'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Rousseau's slogan was "Man was born free, yet he is everywhere in chains".
b) His idea that government rests on a contract with the people supports democracy.

Q.6 Describe the incident which sparked the Revolution.

Answer:
1. On 14 July 1789, the people of Paris were alarmed by a bad harvest, rising bread prices and the rumour of army action against citizens.
2. Crowds gathered, formed a people's militia and broke into government buildings in search of arms.
3. They then stormed the Bastille, the fortress-prison that stood for royal despotism, killed its commander and released the prisoners.

Teacher's Note:
a) The storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 is the event that sparked the revolution.
b) The date is still celebrated in France as its national day.

Q.7 Describe the main ideas contained in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.

Answer:
1. All men are born free and have equal rights.
2. All men have freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of thought and religion.
3. Nobody should be punished without a fair and proper trial in a court of law.
4. The source of power resides in the people, and the government is responsible to the people for all its actions.

Teacher's Note:
a) These rights were called natural and inalienable.
b) The Declaration became the model for later charters of liberty.

Q.8 Who were the Sans-Culottes ?

Answer: The Sans-Culottes were the poor working people of Paris, such as artisans, shopkeepers and labourers. They were called so because they wore long trousers instead of the knee-breeches worn by the nobility. They played an active role in the revolution.

Teacher's Note:
a) The name means "without knee-breeches".
b) They demanded price controls and a share in political power.

Q.9 What was the main aim of the National Assembly ?

Answer: The main aim of the National Assembly was to draft a constitution for France that would limit the powers of the monarch, guarantee the rights of the citizens and make France a constitutional monarchy.

Teacher's Note:
a) The Assembly was formed by the Third Estate on 20 June 1789.
b) Its constitution of 1791 separated the legislature, executive and judiciary.

Q.10 What were the meanings of the following symbols - The broken chain, scepter, blue-white-red, bundle of rods or fasces.

Answer:
1. The broken chain: freedom from slavery and from the chains of tyranny.
2. Sceptre: royal power, which the revolution challenged.
3. Blue-white-red: the tricolour, the national flag and the symbol of the nation.
4. Bundle of rods (fasces): unity and strength, since one rod can be broken but a bundle cannot.

Teacher's Note:
a) These symbols were used on coins, flags and posters during the revolution.
b) The bundle of rods was a symbol of the Roman republic.

Q.11 What was the National Anthem of France ? Who composed it ?

Answer:
1. The National Anthem of France is 'La Marseillaise'.
2. It was composed by Rouget de Lisle.

Teacher's Note:
a) The anthem was first sung in Paris in 1792 by volunteers from Marseille.
b) It was adopted as the national anthem in 1795.

Q.12 Which was the popular political club of France ? What was its leader ?

Answer: The popular political club of France was the Jacobin Club, and its leader was Maximilien Robespierre.

Teacher's Note:
a) The Jacobins were the most radical group in the revolution.
b) Robespierre's policies led to the Reign of Terror.

Q.13 What is a guillotine ? Who invented it ?

Answer:
1. A guillotine is a machine for executing a person by beheading.
2. It was named after Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who proposed it as a more humane method of execution; the design is generally credited to Antoine Louis.

Teacher's Note:
a) The guillotine was widely used during the Reign of Terror.
b) Guillotin did not build the machine himself; he only recommended its use.

Q.14 What work did women of the third estate do ?

Answer: Women of the Third Estate worked in the fields, as spinners and weavers, as labourers in workshops, as domestic servants and as petty traders in the markets. They also looked after their homes and families, and they received low wages for their work.

Teacher's Note:
a) Women from poor families had to work long hours for little pay.
b) Many women took part in the bread protests of 1789.

Q.15 State any two laws passed by Napoleon.

Answer:
1. The Civil Code of 1804, also called the Napoleonic Code, established equality before the law and secured the right to property.
2. He centralised the administration and placed the system of education under state control.

Teacher's Note:
a) The Civil Code was one of the most lasting legacies of Napoleon.
b) Centralisation meant that powers moved from local bodies to the central government.

Q.16 How would you explain the rise of Napoleon ?

Answer:
1. After the revolution there was political and economic instability in France, and a struggle for power.
2. The weak Directory could not control the situation.
3. Napoleon, a brilliant general, used the support of the army to seize power in 1799 and declared himself Emperor in 1804.

Teacher's Note:
a) Political instability created the opportunity for a strong leader.
b) His military victories gave him popularity among the people.
c) The army remained the basis of his power throughout.

Q.17 Which section of the French society paid most of the taxes before the revolution ? Name any three taxes paid by that section.

Answer:
The Third Estate paid most of the taxes. Three taxes paid by them were:
1. Taille, the direct land tax.
2. Gabelle, the salt tax.
3. Tithe, the church tax equal to one-tenth of the agricultural produce.

Teacher's Note:
a) The clergy and nobles were exempt from most of these taxes.
b) Feudal dues paid to nobles were another heavy burden.

Q.18 What was the Bastille ?

Answer: The Bastille was a dreaded fortress-prison in Paris. It stood for the despotic power of the king and was stormed by the people on 14 July 1789.

Teacher's Note:
a) Its fall is the symbol of the beginning of the revolution.
b) Its stones were later used to build other structures.

Q.19 What was Directory ?

Answer: The Directory was the executive body of five members that ruled France after the Reign of Terror, under a republican constitution. It was politically unstable, and it paved the way for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Teacher's Note:
a) The Directory ruled from 1795 to 1799.
b) Its frequent clashes with the legislative councils weakened it.

Q.20 Name any two women club of France. What was the main motive of these clubs ?

Answer:
1. Society of Revolutionary Republican Women (Paris, 1793).
2. Fraternal Society of Patriots of Both Sexes.
Main motive: to demand equal political rights for women, to support the revolution and to press for bread and better conditions for women.

Teacher's Note:
a) These clubs were active mainly in Paris.
b) The clubs were closed down by the government in 1793.

Q.21 Who wrote the 'Two Treatises of Government' ?

Answer: 'Two Treatises of Government' was written by John Locke.

Teacher's Note:
a) Locke's ideas on natural rights influenced the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
b) He argued that people have the right to change a government that fails them.

Q.22 What was the slogan of the French revolutionaries ?

Answer: The slogan of the French revolutionaries was "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity".

Teacher's Note:
a) This slogan is still the motto of the French Republic.

Q.23 When was the National Anthem of France sung for the first time ?

Answer: The National Anthem of France was first sung in Paris in 1792, and it was adopted as the national anthem in 1795.

Teacher's Note:
a) It was first sung by volunteers who had marched from Marseille.
b) The song's original name was 'War Song for the Army of the Rhine'.

Q.24 Who were Jacobins ? Who was their leader ?

Answer: The Jacobins were members of the Jacobin Club, the most radical political group in the French Revolution. Their leader was Maximilien Robespierre.

Teacher's Note:
a) The Jacobins pushed for the execution of the king and for the Reign of Terror.
b) They were removed from power in 1794.

Q.25 Name the three continents which were involved in triangle slave trade.

Answer: Europe, Africa and America (the Americas).

Teacher's Note:
a) Ships carried goods from Europe to Africa, enslaved Africans to America and sugar and tobacco back to Europe.
b) The route formed a triangle.

Q.26 Why was slave trade very important for the imperialist countries ?

Answer:
1. Enslaved labour was needed to work on the sugar, coffee, indigo and tobacco plantations in the colonies.
2. The trade brought huge profits to European merchants and traders.
3. The colonies supplied raw materials and provided markets for European goods.

Teacher's Note:
a) Plantation wealth depended directly on the labour of enslaved people.
b) The profits helped to build the wealth of the European port cities.

Q.27 When was the slave trade abolished in French colonies ?

Answer: Slavery was abolished in the French colonies by the Convention on 4 February 1794. Napoleon revoked this decree in 1802, and slavery was finally abolished in all French colonies in 1848.

Teacher's Note:
a) The abolition of 1794 was reversed in 1802.
b) The final abolition came in 1848.

B. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 How did the teaching of Rousseau lay the foundations of democracy ?

Answer:
1. Rousseau argued that government is based on a social contract between the people and the ruler.
2. He held that sovereignty lies with the people, and not with the king.
3. If the ruler does not fulfil the contract, the people have the right to withdraw their loyalty and to replace him.

Teacher's Note:
a) The idea that power comes from the people is the core of democracy.
b) His book 'The Social Contract' was widely read by revolutionaries.

Q.2 What was the impact of the French Revolution on France ?

Answer:
1. It brought an end to absolute monarchy and established a constitutional government.
2. Feudal dues and forced labour were abolished, and the serfs were set free.
3. All citizens were given equal rights, and the Church was brought under the state.
4. France was reorganised into departments, and the spirit of nationalism and democracy spread.

Teacher's Note:
a) The changes affected every class of French society.
b) The slogan of liberty, equality and fraternity became the guiding principle of the republic.

Q.3 List the accomplishments of the National Assembly of France from 1789 to 1791.

Answer:
1. It declared itself the National Assembly on 20 June 1789 and took the Tennis Court Oath.
2. It abolished the feudal system of obligations and taxes on the night of 4 August 1789.
3. It adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
4. It nationalised Church property and reorganised the Church.
5. It reorganised the administration into departments, districts, cantons and communes.
6. It framed the Constitution of 1791, which made France a constitutional monarchy.

Teacher's Note:
a) These reforms were the basis of the new French state.
b) The Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted in August 1789.

Q.4 Write short note on.
(A) French slave trade
(B) Fall of Napoleon

Answer:

(A) French slave trade
1. French ships carried guns, cloth and goods from France to Africa.
2. In Africa, the goods were exchanged for enslaved people, who were carried across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and America.
3. The enslaved people worked on the sugar, coffee, indigo and tobacco plantations, and the produce was carried back to Europe.
4. The Convention abolished slavery in 1794, Napoleon revoked it in 1802, and it was finally abolished in 1848.

(B) Fall of Napoleon
1. Napoleon's army suffered a heavy defeat in Russia in 1812.
2. Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia defeated him at Leipzig in 1813.
3. He was defeated again at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
4. He was sent as a prisoner to the island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821.

Teacher's Note:
a) The triangle trade made huge profits for French ports such as Nantes and Bordeaux.
b) The Russian campaign of 1812 was the turning point of his career.
c) He was first exiled to Elba in 1814 and returned to power for a short time in 1815.

Q.5 Explain the condition of women in France before and after the revolution.

Answer:
1. Before the revolution, women had no political rights and could not vote. Women of the Third Estate worked hard for low wages and were bound by the laws of their husbands.
2. After the revolution, women's clubs were formed and women demanded equal rights. Olympe de Gouges wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen in 1791.
3. Divorce was made legal in 1792, and laws on inheritance were changed in 1793 to give equal shares to children, but women still did not get the right to vote.

Teacher's Note:
a) Political rights for women came only in 1946 in France.
b) Changes in law were real, but they were limited.

Q.6 Compare the political, economic and social condition of France before and after the revolution.

Answer:
1. Political: Before the revolution, the king had absolute power based on the divine right of kings. After the revolution, power was separated among the legislature, executive and judiciary, and France became a constitutional monarchy.
2. Economic: Before the revolution, the peasants paid heavy taxes and feudal dues. After the revolution, feudal dues were abolished and a uniform system of taxes was introduced.
3. Social: Before the revolution, society was divided into three estates with unequal privileges. After the revolution, equality before the law was established, although inequality of wealth continued.

Teacher's Note:
a) Political power moved from the king to the people through the Assembly.
b) The end of feudal privileges was the biggest economic change.

Q.7 Explain the role of thinkers and philosophers in the French Revolution.

Answer:
1. Montesquieu criticised autocracy and gave the principle of separation of powers.
2. Voltaire criticised the Church and the privileges of the rich, and stressed freedom of speech and religious tolerance.
3. Rousseau gave the theory of social contract and popular sovereignty, which showed that rulers could be removed.
4. Together, they spread the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity among the common people.

Teacher's Note:
a) Their books were read widely in salons and coffee houses.
b) Their ideas gave the revolutionaries a clear set of demands.

Q.8 Why were the representatives of the Third Estate disappointed with the pattern of voting in the 'Estates General' ?

Answer:
1. Each estate had one vote, so the First and the Second Estates together could always outvote the Third Estate.
2. The Third Estate, which was 98% of the population, had no more influence than the privileged 2%.
3. The Third Estate demanded that each member have one vote, but the king rejected this proposal.

Teacher's Note:
a) Voting by head would have given the majority its due say.
b) This dispute led to the Tennis Court Oath.

Q.9 How was slavery abolished in France ?

Answer:
1. The Convention passed a decree on 4 February 1794 ending slavery in the French colonies.
2. Napoleon revoked this decree in 1802 to restore the plantation economy.
3. Slavery was finally abolished in all French colonies in 1848.

Teacher's Note:
a) The abolition of 1794 was the first step, and it was not permanent.
b) The final law of 1848 was passed by the republican government of France.

Q.10 Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.

Answer:
1. The government was in a deep financial crisis because of wars and the extravagance of the court.
2. Heavy taxes fell on the common people, while the privileged classes were exempt.
3. A severe winter led to a bad harvest, and the price of bread rose sharply.
4. The king summoned the Estates General and refused the demand of the Third Estate for a fair vote, which led to protests.

Teacher's Note:
a) Hunger and anger at unfair taxes combined to create the protest.
b) The rumours of army action in Paris made the crowds angrier.
c) Bakers hoarding bread added to the discontent.

C. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Analyse the causes of the French Revolution.

Answer:
1. Economic crisis: the Seven Years War and the extravagance of the court left the state in debt, and heavy taxes were imposed.
2. Social disparity: society was divided into three estates, and the privileged First and Second Estates paid no taxes while the Third Estate of 98% of the people bore the burden.
3. Rise of the middle class: merchants, bankers and manufacturers wanted an end to the feudal barriers that blocked industrial growth.
4. Influence of philosophers: Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau spread the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity.
5. Political causes: absolute monarchy, the divine right of kings, and weak and incompetent kings such as Louis XV and Louis XVI made the system unpopular.

Teacher's Note:
a) Economic and social causes were closely linked, because the taxes fell on the poor.
b) The philosophers gave the people a language to criticise the system.
c) Political weakness of the monarchy allowed protests to grow.
d) The bad harvest and rising bread prices were the immediate causes.

Q.2 What role did the philosophers play in bringing about the French Revolution ?

Answer:
1. Montesquieu, in 'The Spirit of Laws', criticised autocracy and recommended the separation of powers.
2. Voltaire attacked the Church, the privileges of the upper classes and superstition, and defended freedom of speech.
3. Rousseau, in 'The Social Contract', argued that government is based on the consent of the people, and that people have the right to change a government that fails them.
4. The ideas of these thinkers inspired people to demand liberty, equality and fraternity.

Teacher's Note:
a) Each philosopher attacked a different part of the old order.
b) Their ideas were discussed widely among the educated middle class.
c) Rousseau is often called the architect of the revolution.

Q.3 Why is the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen regarded as a revolutionary document ?

Answer:
1. It declared that men are born free and equal in rights, which destroyed the system of privileges by birth.
2. It stated that the source of power resides in the people, and not in the king.
3. It guaranteed liberty, security, equal justice, freedom of speech and religion, and fair taxes to all.
4. It stated that rights are natural and inalienable, which made them the basis of later constitutions.

Teacher's Note:
a) It was adopted by the National Assembly in 1789.
b) The document inspired liberty movements in many countries.

Q.4 What role did Louis XVI play in bringing about the revolution ?

Answer:
1. He was weak, indecisive and unaware of the needs of his people.
2. He spent large sums on court festivities and wars, which made the financial crisis worse.
3. He was controlled by corrupt ministers and by Queen Marie Antoinette, and he refused to reform the tax system.
4. He rejected the demands of the Third Estate, and his attempt to escape from France in 1791 made people distrust him.

Teacher's Note:
a) Louis XVI believed in the divine right of kings.
b) His unwillingness to change the system encouraged the revolutionaries.
c) He was tried and executed in 1793.

Q.5 Give an estimate of Napoleon Bonaparte as the First Consul.

Answer:
1. As First Consul, Napoleon was an efficient administrator who brought order after years of instability.
2. He introduced the Civil Code of 1804, which established equality before the law and protected property rights.
3. He centralised the administration and reformed education, which made the state more efficient.
4. However, he limited freedom of the press and political freedom, and he became an autocrat when he declared himself Emperor in 1804.

Teacher's Note:
a) His reforms outlived his rule in many parts of Europe.
b) His record is mixed, with both democratic and authoritarian features.

Q.6 What was the impact of the French Revolution on the world ?

Answer:
1. It marked the end of feudalism and the beginning of industrial capitalism.
2. The slogans of liberty, equality and fraternity spread across Europe, and a chain of revolutions followed in the nineteenth century.
3. The Declaration of the Rights of Man became a model charter of liberty for the whole world.
4. It inspired the people of colonies, such as India, to fight for their freedom.

Teacher's Note:
a) The revolution changed the way nations thought about government.
b) Its ideas remain the foundation of modern democracy.

Q.7 Which groups of French society benefited from the revolution ? Which groups were forced to relinquish power ? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution ?

Answer:
1. Benefited: the middle class (businessmen, traders and professionals) gained political and economic rights, and the peasants were freed from feudal dues.
2. Forced to relinquish power: the king, the nobles and the upper clergy lost their privileges and their political power.
3. Disappointed: the urban poor (sans-culottes), the working people and women did not get political rights or the vote, and the poor peasants did not get land.

Teacher's Note:
a) The middle class gained the most from the revolution.
b) The poorest groups had hoped for more than the revolution gave them.

Q.8 Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution.

Answer:
1. Equality before the law, which was declared in the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
2. Freedom of speech and expression.
3. Freedom of religion and thought.
4. The right to a fair trial and protection from arbitrary punishment.
5. Separation of powers among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
6. Government responsible to the people, and the right to vote.

Teacher's Note:
a) Many of these rights are now in the constitutions of most democratic countries.
b) Universal voting rights came much later than the revolution.

Q.9 How was French society organised ? What privileges did certain sections of society enjoy ?

Answer:
1. French society was divided into three estates: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobles) and the Third Estate (common people).
2. The clergy and nobles were exempt from most taxes and owned a large part of the land.
3. The privileged classes held all important positions in the court, the army and the government, and they drew heavy salaries and pensions.
4. The Third Estate, which was 98% of the population, paid the taxes and had no political rights.

Teacher's Note:
a) Privilege was based on birth, not on merit.
b) The two upper estates owned about two-fifths of the land.

Q.10 What measures were taken by Robespierre's government ?

Answer:
1. Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment during the Reign of Terror.
2. Enemies of the revolution, including ex-nobles, clergy and even members of his own party who disagreed with him, were arrested and guillotined.
3. Laws placing a maximum ceiling on prices were introduced to control the cost of essential goods.
4. Churches were shut down, and the Church was pushed out of public life.

Teacher's Note:
a) The measures were taken to protect the revolution from internal and external enemies.
b) Robespierre himself was guillotined in July 1794.

Q.11 What role did women play during the revolutionary years ?

Answer:
1. Women took part in the bread protests of 1789 and in the crowds that marched to Versailles in October 1789 to demand bread.
2. They also formed political clubs such as the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women.
3. Olympe de Gouges wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen in 1791.

Teacher's Note:
a) Women were active in the streets, but they were not given political rights.
b) Their clubs were suppressed in 1793.

Q.12 What laws were passed by the revolutionary government for the benefit of women ?

Answer:
1. Divorce was legalised in 1792, which gave women the right to end an unhappy marriage.
2. In 1793, laws on inheritance were changed so that children, both sons and daughters, got equal shares of the property.

Teacher's Note:
a) These laws were a real step forward in family rights.
b) Women still did not get the right to vote.

Q.13 How did the revolutionary governments translate the ideals of liberty and equality into everyday practice ?

Answer:
1. Feudal dues and privileges were abolished, so all citizens were treated equally before the law.
2. Internal customs barriers were removed and a uniform system of weights and measures was introduced.
3. Church lands were taken over by the state.
4. Forced labour was stopped and the serfs were set free.

Teacher's Note:
a) The ideals were applied through laws, not just speeches.
b) Some rights were still limited to men of property.

Q.14 What is subsistence crisis ? Mention any two factors responsible for this in France.

Answer:
A subsistence crisis is a situation in which people cannot get enough food to survive, because the prices of food rise sharply and wages do not keep pace.
1. A severe winter and a bad harvest reduced the supply of grain.
2. Bakers and merchants hoarded supplies, which pushed up the price of bread.

Teacher's Note:
a) Bread was the main food of the poor, so its price decided their survival.
b) The crisis made the crowds in Paris angry and ready to protest.

Q.15 Which period in France history is known as the reign of terror ? Given reasons.

Answer:
1. The period between 1793 and 1794 is known as the Reign of Terror.
2. The revolutionary government faced enemies at home, such as royalists and counter-revolutionaries, and enemies abroad, such as Austria and Prussia, which were at war with France.
3. To protect the revolution, Robespierre's government used the guillotine against thousands of people who were thought to be enemies.
4. Laws placing a maximum ceiling on prices and the closure of churches were also part of this policy of control.

Teacher's Note:
a) Fear of counter-revolution led to the harsh policy.
b) Thousands of people were executed, and the period ended with Robespierre's execution in July 1794.

Q.16 'Social disparity was one of the major causes of the French Revolution'. Justify by giving examples.

Answer:
1. The First and the Second Estates made up about 2% of the population, but they held all the privileges, positions and wealth.
2. The nobles and clergy did not pay taxes, while the peasants paid the taille, the salt tax, the tithe and feudal dues.
3. The privileged classes owned about two-fifths of the land, while the peasants had little or no land.
4. The nobles and upper clergy drew heavy salaries and pensions from the king, while the common people were in misery and starvation.

Teacher's Note:
a) The gap between the rich and the poor was the central grievance of the revolution.
b) Examples of unequal taxes make the point clear to the reader.
c) The Third Estate was the majority, but it had no political voice.

Q.17 Discuss the impact of abolition of censorship in France.

Answer:
1. Freedom of the press allowed newspapers, pamphlets and books to spread revolutionary ideas widely.
2. People could openly criticise the king, the nobility and the Church, which increased public debate.
3. The spread of ideas helped to build public support for the revolution and its demands.
4. Later, the revolutionary governments again restricted the press, which showed that the freedom was not fully secure.

Teacher's Note:
a) Freedom of expression was one of the most important rights of the revolution.
b) Public opinion became a powerful force in politics.

Q.18 Write three main features of the French Constitution of 1791.

Answer:
1. France became a constitutional monarchy, and the king's powers were limited.
2. Power was separated among the legislature, executive and judiciary.
3. The constitution began with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, and the National Assembly was indirectly elected.

Teacher's Note:
a) The constitution was framed by the National Assembly and completed in 1791.
b) It was the first written constitution of France.

Q.19 Describe the importance of the Declaration of the Rights of Man in France.

Answer:
1. It declared that men are born free and equal in rights, which ended the privileges of birth.
2. It made the people the source of all power, which weakened the absolute rule of the king.
3. It guaranteed liberty, freedom of speech and religion, equal justice and fair taxes to every citizen.
4. It became the basis of the new constitution and the foundation of a new social order in France.

Teacher's Note:
a) It was adopted in 1789, before the constitution was written.
b) The Declaration is still a reference point for French rights.

Q.20 What was the significance of 'The Tennis Court Oath' in the French Revolution ?

Answer:
1. On 20 June 1789, the representatives of the Third Estate were locked out of their meeting hall, so they met in an indoor tennis court at Versailles.
2. They declared themselves the National Assembly and swore not to disperse until they had drafted a constitution for France.
3. The oath showed that the Third Estate claimed the right to represent the nation and limit the king's power.

Teacher's Note:
a) This was the first clear challenge of the Third Estate to royal authority.
b) The oath was an important step towards the constitutional monarchy.

D. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Who was Rousseau ?
(A) French philosopher
(B) Army general
(C) Estate general
(D) King of France

Answer: (A) French philosopher

1. Rousseau was a thinker who wrote 'The Social Contract'.
2. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) Rousseau was not a general or a king.
b) Estates General was the assembly of the three estates.

Q.2 Who were sans-culottes ?
(A) Common people of India
(B) Common people of Paris
(C) Common people of Washington
(D) None of these

Answer: (B) Common people of Paris

1. The sans-culottes were the working poor of Paris.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) They played a key role in the revolution in Paris.
b) The term does not refer to any group outside France.

Q.3 What was the National Anthem of France ?
(A) Marseillaise
(B) Jan-Gan Man
(C) Guillotine
(D) None of these

Answer: (A) Marseillaise

1. The national anthem of France is 'La Marseillaise'.
2. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) Jan-Gan Man is the national anthem of India.
b) The guillotine was a machine, not an anthem.

Q.4 Which was the popular political club of France ?
(A) Womens club
(B) Voltaire club
(C) Jacobins
(D) All of these

Answer: (C) Jacobins

1. The Jacobin Club was the most popular and radical political club in France.
2. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Women's clubs and the Voltaire club were not the most popular political clubs.

Q.5 Who was the Author of the book 'Spirit of Law' ?
(A) Rousseau
(B) Montesquieu
(C) Voltaire
(D) St. Jacob

Answer: (B) Montesquieu

1. 'The Spirit of Laws' was written by Montesquieu.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) Rousseau wrote 'The Social Contract'.
b) The book is also known in English as 'The Spirit of the Laws'.

Q.6 When was the Napoleon defeated at Waterloo ?
(A) 1810
(B) 1811
(C) 1812
(D) 1815

Answer: (D) 1815

1. Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
2. Hence, the correct option is (D).

Teacher's Note:
a) Waterloo ended his rule for good.
b) He died in exile on St. Helena in 1821.

Q.7 When did France become a republic ?
(A) 1789-90
(B) 1790-91
(C) 1792-93
(D) 1794-95

Answer: (C) 1792-93

1. France became a republic in 1792-93, and the king was executed in 1793.
2. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) The monarchy ended in 1792.
b) The Directory was set up later, in 1795.

Q.8 A tax paid directly to the state in France is called
(A) Tithe
(B) Taille
(C) Monar
(D) Livere

Answer: (B) Taille

1. Taille was the direct land tax paid to the state.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) Tithe was a tax paid to the Church.
b) Livre was the unit of currency, not a tax.

Q.9 Unit a currency used in France till 1794 is called
(A) Clergy
(B) Chatean
(C) Livere
(D) Tithe

Answer: (C) Livere

1. The livre was the unit of currency used in France till 1794.
2. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Clergy refers to church persons, and tithe was a tax.
b) A chateau is a castle, not a currency.

Q.10 When did Louis XVI become the king of France ?
(A) 1770
(B) 1774
(C) 1776
(D) 1778

Answer: (B) 1774

1. Louis XVI became King of France in 1774.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) He ruled until the revolution and was executed in 1793.
b) Remember the year 1774 for the important dates list.

Q.11 French society was divided in classes called -
(A) Castes
(B) Community
(C) Estate
(D) All of these

Answer: (C) Estate

1. French society was divided into the three classes called estates.
2. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Castes is a term used for Indian society, not French society.
b) Community is a general word, not the name of the classes.

Q.12 When did French women get the Right to vote ?
(A) 1940
(B) 1946
(C) 1948
(D) 1950

Answer: (B) 1946

1. French women were given the right to vote in 1946.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) This was more than 150 years after the revolution.
b) Women had demanded this right since 1789.

Q.13 Who wrote, 'The Social Contract' ?
(A) John Locke
(B) Jacques Rousseau
(C) Voltaire
(D) George Danton

Answer: (B) Jacques Rousseau

1. 'The Social Contract' was written by Jean Jacques Rousseau.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) John Locke wrote 'Two Treatises of Government'.
b) Voltaire was known for his attacks on the Church.

Q.14 The National Assembly was led by-
(A) Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes
(B) Louis XVI and Mirabeau
(C) Mirabeau and Rousseau
(D) Rousseau and Louis XVI

Answer: (A) Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes

1. The National Assembly was led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes.
2. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) Louis XVI was the king, not a leader of the Assembly.
b) Rousseau had died in 1778 and was not part of the Assembly.

Q.15 The national anthem of France, 'Marseilles' was written by-
(A) John Locke
(B) Jacques Rousseau
(C) Voltaire
(D) Roget de L'Isle

Answer: (D) Roget de L'Isle

1. The 'Marseillaise' was written by Rouget de Lisle (printed here as Roget de L'Isle).
2. Hence, the correct option is (D).

Teacher's Note:
a) The correct spelling of the composer's name is Rouget de Lisle.
b) Rousseau and Voltaire were philosophers, not composers.

Q.16 Who was the leader of the Jacobin Club ?
(A) John Locke
(B) Jacques Rousseau
(C) Maximilian Robespierre
(D) Roget de L'Isle

Answer: (C) Maximilian Robespierre

1. Robespierre led the Jacobin Club.
2. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Robespierre was the head of the government during the Reign of Terror.
b) The other options were thinkers or composers, not Jacobin leaders.

Q.17 Which period in the history of France is known as Reign of Terror ?
(A) 1793 to 1798
(B) 1793 to 1799
(C) 1793 to 1794
(D) 1793 to 1799

Answer: (C) 1793 to 1794

1. The Reign of Terror lasted from 1793 to 1794.
2. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) It ended with the execution of Robespierre in July 1794.
b) Options (A), (B) and (D) give periods that are too long.

Q.18 When was slavery abolished in French colonies ?
(A) 1848
(B) 1849
(C) 1850
(D) 1851

Answer: (A) 1848

1. Slavery was finally abolished in all French colonies in 1848.
2. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) The 1794 decree was revoked in 1802.
b) The date 1848 is one of the important dates for this chapter.

Q.19 What did the red cap worn by Sans Culottes in France symbolise ?
(A) Liberty
(B) Brotherhood
(C) Love
(D) Equality

Answer: (A) Liberty

1. The red cap, called the Phrygian cap, was a symbol of liberty.
2. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) The red cap was worn by the free people of ancient Rome.
b) Liberty, equality and fraternity were the three revolutionary slogans.

Q.20 In the context of France what was "the Convention" ?
(A) A French school
(B) The newly elected assembly
(C) The club
(D) A women organisation

Answer: (B) The newly elected assembly

1. The Convention was the newly elected assembly that replaced the Legislative Assembly in 1792.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) The Convention abolished slavery in the French colonies in 1794.
b) It was a body of elected representatives, not a school or club.