Social Science – 9th JAYSHREE PERIWAL HIGH SCHOOL Worksheet (2022-23)

History-1 The French Revolution Teacher’s Copy

1. Recall and write the name of a place known as “the Fortress prison”.
Ans- Bastille. [1]
2. Name the Austrian princess who was the queen of France during the French Revolution. Ans- Marie
Antoinette. [1]
3. What do you mean by the term Tithe?
Ans- (i) A tax levied by the church equal to 1/10 of agri-produce. [1]
4. Give two characteristics of the middle class who emerged in eighteenth century France .
(i) The middle class included professionals such as lawyers or administrative officials and
merchants who had become prosperous through overseas trade.
(ii) They advocated a society based in freedom and equal laws and opportunities for all.
(1/2+1/2)
5. Mention the author of the pamphlet called “What is The Third Estate”?
Ans- Abbe Sieyes [1]
6. List two rights That you think were the natural and inalienable rights.
Ans- Right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law. [1/2+1/2]
7. What did 'spectre' and' the red cap' symbolize during the French Revolution?
Ans- Spectre - Royal power, red cap - worn by slaves to become free. [½+½]
8. State the message expressed on the law tablet.
Ans- Law Tablet-The law is the same for all, and all are equal before it. (1)
9. Who all were entitled to vote under the Constitution of 1791?
Ans- Right to Vote- Only men above 25 years age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer's
wages were given the status active citizens and had the right to vote. (1)
10. As per your understanding, why were the images and symbols were used in eighteenth century
France?
Ans- The majority of men and women in the 18 th century could not read and write. So images and
symbols were used to communicate important ideas. [½+½]
11. What is the national anthem of France and who composed it?
Ans- Marseillaise composed by the poet Roger de L'Isle. [½+½]
12. Which period is referred to as the 'Reign of Terror' and why?
Ans- 1793-1794, because Robespierre followed the policy of severe control and punishment. [½+½]
13. Name the leader of the Jacobins.
Ans- Macmillan Robespierre. [1]
14. Give information about the Directory that ruled in France.
Ans- An Executive made up of 5 members who were appointed by two elected legislative
councils. [1]
15. Name the most famous women political club that came up during the French Revolution.
Ans- The Society of Revolutionary & Republican Women. [1]
16. Mention the names of the French colonies in the Caribbean.
Ans- Martinique, Guadeloupe, San Domingo. [1]
17. A triangular slave trade was held between which areas of the world during the eighteenth
century?
Ans- Africa, America & Europe. [1]
18. What do you think was the most revolutionary reforms of the Jacobin club.
Ans- Abolition of slavery in the French colonies. (1)
19. When and where was Napoleon Bonaparte finally defeated?
Ans- 1815, Waterloo. [½+½]
20. What do you think is the most important legacy of the French Revolution?
Ans- The ideas of Liberty & Democratic Rights. [1/2+1/2=1]
B-1 How could you hold Louis XVI responsible for preparing the background of the French Revolution?
Justify.
(i) Louis XVI ascended the throne of France in 1774. He was just twenty years old at that time and was
quite unaware of the problems of the common masses .
(ii) Upon his accession, the royal treasury was empty. In order to meet the cost of his extravagant
court at the immense palace of Versailles, and regular administrative expenses, he increased taxes.
(iii) Under Louis XVI, France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from the
common enemy Britain. The debt had risen to more than 2 billion livres and lenders began to
charge 10 per cent interest on loans. Pg4
B-2. Describe the divisions in the French society during the Old Regime.
The French society was divided into three Estates: ( Pg 4 ) [1x3=3]
(i) First Estate: It comprised the church and the clergy. They enjoyed certain privileges by birth. They
were exempted from paying taxes to the state. They collected tithe from peasants which was one-
tenth of the agricultural produce.
(ii) Second Estate: In the second estate were the nobles and other rich members. They were also
exempted from paying taxes. They further enjoyed feudal privileges which included feudal dues
from the peasants.
(iii) Third Estate: It included big businessmen, merchants, professionals, peasants , artisans, landless
labour and servants. About 90 per cent of the population was peasants. They worked in the fields
and houses of the landlords, and also served in the army. The third estate had to pay direct taxes
like 'taille' and a number of indirect taxes.
B-3 State the meaning of the subsistence crisis. Evaluate the circumstances that led to the subsistence
crisis in France.
(i) The Subsistence Crisis is an extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered.
(ii) The demand for food grains increased as the population had increased in France from 23 million to
28 million. Production of grains could not keep pace with the demand. So the price of bread rose
rapidly.
(iii) Most workers were employed as labourers with fixed wages which did not keep pace with the rise
in prices. The gap between the poor and the rich widened. Things became worse whenever drought
or hail reduced the harvest. (1+2)
B-4   The fall of Bastille prison became the immediate cause of the French Revolution? Do you agree or
disagree? Give reasons.
(i) A severe winter had meant a bad harvest, the price of bread rose, often bakers exploited the
situation and hoarded supplies. After spending long hours in long queues at the bakery, crowds of
angry women stormed into the shops.
(ii) At the same time, the king ordered troops to move into Paris. Some 7,000 men and women gathered
in front of the town hall and broke into a number of government buildings in search of arms. A
group of several hundred people stormed the fortress-prison, the Bastille.
(iii) In the armed fight, the commander of Bastille was killed and prisoners released. Since the Bastille
stood for the despotic power of the king, it led people towards the success of the French Revolution.
B-5. In your opinion what was the contribution of French philosophers in the French Revolution .
Pg 6-7 [1x3=3]
(i) John Locke: Locke wrote, 'Two Treatises of Government'. In this book, he criticised the divine and
absolute rights of the rulers.
(ii) John Jacques Rousseau: Rousseau wrote 'The Social Contract'. He had put forward the idea of
formation of a government based on a social contract between people and their representatives.
(iii) Montesquieu: He wrote, 'The spirit of the Laws'. According to him, there should be a division of
power between the three important organs-the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary.
B-6 Discuss the events that you think led to the famous 'Tennis Court Oath' Pg 8 [1x3=3]
(i) On 5th May 1789, Louis XVI called an assembly of Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes.
(ii) Voting was to be conducted in a way that each estate had one vote but the third estate demanded
that each member would have one vote. It was rejected by the king and the third estate members
walked out in protest.
(iii) On June 20, third estate members assembled in the tennis court of Versailles under the leadership of
Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes. They swore not to disperse till they have drafted the constitution of
France.
B-7 According to you specify the laws that were made to improve the status of women in the
Revolutionary French society. Pg 19 [1x3=3 or 1x5=5]
(i) Schooling was made compulsory for all girls and state schools were created.
(ii) Their fathers could no longer force them into marriage against their will.
(iii) Marriage was made into a contract entered into freely and registered under civil law.
(iv) Divorce was made legal, and could be applied by both men and women.
(v) Women could now train for jobs, could become artists or run small businesses.
B-8 How would you explain the rise of Napoleon? Why is he known as the moderniser of Europe?
(i) The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon had achieved glorious victories in wars. This made France realize that only a military
dictator like Napoleon would restore a stable government.
(ii) In 1804, he crowned himself the emperor of France. He set out to conquer neighboring European
countries, dispossessing dynasties and creating kingdoms where he placed members of his family.
(iii) Napoleon viewed himself as a moderniser of Europe. He introduced many laws such as the
protection of private property and a uniform system of weight and measures provided by the
decimal system. But his rise to power did not last for a long time. He was finally defeated at
Waterloo in 1815. Pg 23 (2+1=3)
B-9 In your views which groups of French society benefitted from the revolution? Which groups were
forced to relinquish power? Which sections of the society would have been disappointed with the
outcome of the revolution?(1+1+1=3)
(i) The wealthy class of the third estate which came to be known as the new middle class of France
benefited the most from the revolution. This group comprised big businessmen, petty officers,
 lawyers, teachers, doctors and traders. Previously, these people had to pay state taxes and they did
not enjoy equal status. But after the revolution they began to be treated equally with the upper
sections of the society.
(ii) With the abolition of the feudal system of obligation and taxes, the clergy and the nobility came on
the same level with the middle class. They were forced to give up their privileges. Their executive
powers were also taken away from them.
(iii) The poorer sections of the society, i.e. small peasants, landless labourers, servants, daily wage
earners would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution. Women also would
have been highly discontented.
B-10 Would you agree that the message of universal rights was beset with contradiction? Explain.
(HOTS)
(i) The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen laid stress on equality but a large section of the
society was denied it. The right to vote and elect their representatives did not solve the poor man’s
problem.
(ii) Women were still regarded as passive citizens. They did not have any political rights such as
the right to vote and hold political offices like men. Hence, their struggle for equal political rights
continued.
(iii) Slavery existed in France until the first half of the 19th century. France continued to hold and
expand colonies. Thus, its image as a liberator could not last for a long time. (1x3)
C-1 Explain the changes introduced by the National Assembly of 1791
Changes made by the National Assembly of 1791. Pg10-11 [1x5=5]
(i) Constitution- The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791. Its
main objective was to limit the power of the monarch.
(ii) Division of power-These powers instead of being concentrated in the hands of one person
were now separated and assigned to different institutions - the legislative, the executive and
the judiciary. This made France a constitutional monarchy.
(iii) Election of National Assembly- It was indirectly elected. In it citizens voted for a group of
electors who in turn chose the assembly. It had the power to make laws.
(iv) Right to Vote- Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a
labourer's wage given the status of active citizens. They were entitled to vote. Rest men and
all women were termed as passive citizens and did not have the right to vote.
(v) Declaration of Right of Man & citizen-Rights such as right to life, freedom of speech and
opinion, equality before law were natural inalienable and belonged to each human being by
birth.
C-2 How do you think Robespierre tried to bring equality in the French society. Pg 16
[1x5=5]
(i) Robespierre passed laws placing a ceiling on wages and prices. Meat and bread were rationed.
(ii) Peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at fixed price
(iii) All citizens had to eat the pain d'egalite (equality bread) which was a loaf made of whole wheat and
use of flour was forbidden.
(iv) Equality was to be practised through forms of speech and address. French men and women were
higher to be known as Citoyenne (citizen) instead of the traditional Monsieur (Sir) and Madame
(Madam).
(v) Churches were shut down and their buildings converted into barracks or offices.
C-3 Discuss and give your opinion on the circumstances that led to the French Revolution.
Causes of the French Revolution: Dictate [1x5=5]
(i) Despotic rule of Louis XVI:. He had drained the financial resources of France in wars and helping

American colonies. To meet the cost of his extravagant court,palace and regular administrative

expenses, he increased taxes which were paid by the third estate.

(ii) Division of French society: The French society was divided into three estates. Among them,

the First and Second Estate were the clergy and nobles. They enjoyed all privileges. Rest

were the third estate, which paid all kinds of direct and indirect taxes.

(iii) Rising prices: The population of France has increased. This resulted in more demand for

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) 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 coffeehouses and spread among people.

(v) Estates General: 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 had one vote, the king rejected this appeal. They walked out of the assembly.

C4. Analyse the condition of women in France before the Revolution.

Condition of women before revolution. Pg 18 [1x5=5]

(i) Most women of the third estate had to work for a living. They worked as seamstresses,

laundresses, sold flowers, fruits, vegetables or employed as domestic servants.

(ii) Most women did not have access to education or job training.

(iii) Daughters of nobles and wealthier members could study in convent, after

which their families arranged a marriage for them.

(iv) Working women had to care for their families, that is, cook, fetch water, queue up for bread

and look after the children.

(v) Their wages were lower than those of men.

C5. Assess the legacy of the French Revolution to the world. (HOTS)

Legacy (Dictate)

1. The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution.

These ideas became an umpiring force for the political movements in the world in the 19th and 20th

centuries.
2. The ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity spread from France to the rest of Europe, where the

feudal system was finally abolished.

3. Colonised people reworked the idea of freedom from bondage into their movements to create a

sovereign nation-state.

4. The idea of Nationalism that emerged after the French Revolution started becoming mass

movements all over the world. Now people began to question the absolute power.

5. The impact of the French Revolution would be seen in India too. Tipu Sultan and Raja Rammohan

Roy were deeply influenced by the ideas of the revolution. In the end, we can say that after the

French Revolution people all over the world became aware of their rights.

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