G.
D GOENKA PUBLIC SCHOOL SEC-9, ROHINI
CLASS IX : SOCIAL SCIENCE
FRENCH REVOLUTION NOTES
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1. Who was the ruler of France during the revolution?
→ Louis XVI was the ruler of France during the French Revolution.
2. Name the three ‘Estates’ into which French society was divided before the Revolution.
→ The three Estates were:
First Estate: Clergy
Second Estate: Nobility
Third Estate: Common people (peasants, workers, bourgeoisie)
3. When did the French Revolution occur?
→ The French Revolution began in 1789.
4. What were tithes?
→ Tithes were a type of religious tax paid by peasants to the church, usually one-tenth of
their produce.
5. What was taille?
→ Taille was a direct tax paid by the Third Estate (common people) to the state.
6. Who formed the National Assembly in France in 1789?
→ The Third Estate representatives formed the National Assembly.
7. To whom were the taxes called Tithes payable by the peasants in eighteenth century
France?
→ Tithes were payable to the clergy.
8. Which class of society in France was behind the French Revolution?
→ The Third Estate (common people) was behind the revolution.
9. What was the slogan of the French revolutionaries?
→ "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" (in French: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité)
10. On what charges was Louis XVI of France sentenced to death?
→ He was charged with treason and conspiring against the state.
11. What was the feudal system?
→ The feudal system was a social and economic structure where peasants worked on the
lands of nobles and paid taxes, while nobles enjoyed privileges and had power over them. It
was hierarchical and unequal, favoring the clergy and nobility.
12. Which philosopher had forwarded the principle of voting by the assembly as a whole,
where each member should have one vote, during the rule of Louis XVI?
→ Jean-Jacques Rousseau advocated the principle of voting where each individual should
have one vote (concept of popular sovereignty).
13. In which book did Rousseau mention the idea of one person, one vote?
→ In his book "The Social Contract" (1762).
14. What was the theme of the book ‘The Spirit of the Laws’ written by Montesquieu?
→ The book emphasized the separation of powers among legislative, executive, and
judiciary to prevent tyranny and ensure liberty.
15. Who proposed a division of power within the government?
→ Montesquieu.
16. Name any four French philosophers who inspired the French people to revolt.
● Jean-Jacques Rousseau
● Voltaire
● Montesquieu
● John Locke
17. Why was Bastille hated by the French people?
→ The Bastille was hated because it was a symbol of the king’s absolute power and
tyranny. It was used to imprison political opponents without trial.
18. Which Battle sealed the Fate of France in 1815?
→ The Battle of Waterloo sealed the fate of France in 1815, leading to the defeat of
Napoleon Bonaparte.
19. When did France abolish the monarchy and become a republic?
→ France abolished the monarchy and became a republic on 21st September 1792.
20. Name any one class that did not belong to the Jacobin Club?
→ The nobility (nobles/aristocrats) did not belong to the Jacobin Club.
21. Who was the leader of the Jacobin Club?
→ Maximilien Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobin Club.
22. Which period of France's history is known as ‘the Terror’?
→ The period from 1793 to 1794 is known as ‘the Reign of Terror’, marked by mass
executions and political purges under Robespierre’s rule.
23. Name the most popular political club started by the French women.
→ The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was the most popular political club
formed by French women.
24. Which law was introduced by the revolutionary government in France as help to
improve the lives of women?
→ The revolutionary government made schooling compulsory for all girls, which was a
major step to improve the lives of women.
(Women were also allowed to train for jobs, and divorce was made easier.)
25. Who abolished slavery in France?
→ The Convention (under the Jacobin government) abolished slavery in 1794.
(However, it was later reinstated by Napoleon in 1802 and finally abolished in 1848.)
26. ‘The National Assembly completed the draft of the Constitution in 1791’. Mention any
two features of the Constitution.
● Limited the powers of the monarch; France became a constitutional monarchy.
● Separation of powers among the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary.
(Only active male citizens who paid taxes could vote.)
27. Who wrote the ‘Two Treatises of Government’?
→ John Locke wrote the Two Treatises of Government.
28. What does the Red Cap worn by Sans-Culottes in France symbolize?
→ The Red Cap (Phrygian cap) symbolized liberty and freedom from oppression.
29. Name the political body to which the three estates of the French society sent their
representatives?
→ The Estates-General was the political body to which all three estates sent their representatives.
30. What role did women play in the French revolution?
→ a. Active Participation in Protests: They protested against rising food prices and the lack of
political rights.
b. Formation of Political Clubs: Women formed their own political clubs like the Society of
Revolutionary and Republican Women to discuss social issues and demand reforms.
c. Demand for Equal Rights: - Women demanded the right to vote, education, work, and equal
pay.
- Olympe de Gouges, a famous woman revolutionary, wrote the “Declaration of the Rights of
Woman and the Female Citizen” in 1791, demanding equality for women.
d. Involvement in Revolutionary Activities: Women participated in club meetings, debates, rallies,
and pamphlet distribution to spread revolutionary ideas.
e. Education Reforms: The revolutionary government made schooling compulsory for girls to uplift
their status.
