JABAL FARASAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, RABIGH – KSA
HISTORY CHAPTER 1
FRENCH REVOLUTION (IX CLASS)
IMPORTANT EXERCISE QUESTIONS ONLY
Q.1: Describe the circumstances leading to outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.
Ans: On the eve of the French Revolution, that is in 1789 A.D. France presented a dismal look.
Following were the conditions on the eve of the French Revolution. In other words we can say that
following were the chief causes of the French Revolution:
 Social Causes –
On the eve of the revolution, the French society was ridden with several inequalities.
 The clergy and the nobles led a life of luxury and enjoyed numerous privileges. On the
other hand, the peasants and workers lived a wretched life. They groaned under heavy
taxes and forced labour.
 The middle-class comprising of lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc also suffered humiliation at
the hands of the clergy and the nobles.
 This state of social inequality was the chief cause of the French Revolution.
 Political Causes –
 Emperor Louis XVI of France was an empty headed despot.
 He and his queen, Marie Antoinette, squandered money on their luxurious living and
wasteful festivities.
 The whole administration was corrupt and each department had its own laws.
 In the absence of any uniform system there was confusion all around. The people were
tired of such a rotten system of administration and wanted a change.
 Economic Causes –
 France had been continually involved in wars which had broken her economy.
 The luxurious life led by the French King Louis XVI and his queen had made the matter still
worse.
 The people groaned under heavy taxes. The system was so faulty that only a fraction of the
taxes could be realized as the people were too poor to pay the taxes while nobles and the
clergy who could pay, were completely exempted from all the taxes.
 The economy became so bad that the French Government had almost reached a state of
bankruptcy. Thus the shattered economy of France proved a major cause of the
Revolution.
 Immediate Cause –
 Forced by financial bankruptcy, Emperor Louis XVI was compelled to call a meeting of the
Estates General in 1789 A.D. after a lapse of 175 years.
 It generated much excitement as the members of the Third Estate were determined to put
forth their problems.
 But when the first two Estates i.e. the Clergy and the Nobility refused to have a common
meeting with the Third Estate, the people lost their temper.
 They had already suffered much in the severe famine in 1788 - 1789. In this way the calling
of the Estates General in 1789 A.D. proved to be the immediate cause of the French
Revolution.
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Q.2: Which groups of French society benefitted from the revolution? Which groups were forced to
relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcome of the
revolution?
 Third Estate was benefitted from the revolution. These groups included the peasants, workers,
petty-officers, lawyers, teachers, doctors and traders.
 People belonging to the upper classes - the First Estate and the Second Estate, which enjoyed
all the privileges has to relinquish power. Such people were the Clergy and the Nobles.
 The Clergy and the Nobles would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution
because everybody is disappointed when privileges are taken away from them.
Q.3: Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during the 19th and the
20th centuries.
Ans: The French Revolution was one of the most significant events in the World History. It gave to the
world the three main ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Its main achievements and effects on
the modern world were as follows:
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The French Revolution put an end to the arbitrary (random) rule
Developed the idea of People’s Republic in Europe and subsequently in other parts of the
world.
It inspired the people throughout the world with the ideals of freedom and liberty which
subsequently formed the basis of the national sovereignty.
The French Revolution preached the concept of equal rights for all the citizens, which
subsequently became the concept of equality before law for all people.
It spread the idea of human fraternity which is one of the chief attributes for promoting the
ideals of love, unity and co-operation among the different sections of the society.
The French Revolution gave the term ‘Nation’ its modern meaning and promoted the
concept of ‘nationalist’ which inspired the people in Poland, Germany, Netherlands and
Italy to establish Nation-States in their countries.
The French Revolution had a great salutary (helpful) effect on the ruling monarchs who
took several measures to ensure people’s welfare introducing many reforms.
Q.4: Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origin could be treated to the French
Revolution.
We in India enjoy the following Fundamental Rights.
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Right to Equality.
Right to Freedom.
Cultural and Educational Right
Right to Religious Freedom
Right against Exploitation
Right to Constitutional Remedies.
If we closely study the impact of the French Revolution, we can easily find that many of them have
their origin in the French Revolution.
 Right to Equality - The Right to Equality has its origin in the French Revolution. Equality was one
of the main principles of the French Revolution, which led to special rights and privileges of the
common classes and established political, economic and social equality.
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 Right to Liberty or Freedom - The origin of this right can also be traced to the French
Revolution. The Declaration of Rights of Man laid emphasis on the personal liberty and right of
the common peoples.
 Inspiring the Spirit of Democracy - The French Revolution inspired the spirit of democracy
which ensured all other rights which we enjoy today. It stressed on the principle that the
government should not be only for the people but also by the people.
 Encouraging the Spirit of Fraternity - By breaking all shackles of high and low the French
Revolution helped in the growth of the spirit of Fraternity and Social Welfare.
Directly or indirectly the origin of all Fundamental Rights can be traced to the French Revolution.
Q.5: Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset with
contradictions. Explain.
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There are two opinions on this point whether the message of universal rights was beset with
concentrations or not.
Most of the authors feel that the message of universal rights, as explained in the last
question was quite clear and there should be no contradiction to such principles.
The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen was perhaps the first attempt in the world to
draw an outline of the universal rights on such a wider scale.
It was a laudable (praiseworthy) attempt.
It laid emphasis on the three fundamental principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
Such principles have been adopted by all the democratic countries.
Contradictions, if any, are only vague and need not be taken so seriously.
Some criticize only for the sake of criticism and so they should be ignored.
The French Revolutionaries must be congratulated for heralding the great principles of
Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
Additional important questions
Q.1: Identity Louis XVI, telling the part played by him in the French Revolution.
Ans: Louis XVI was a despotic ruler of France. He was a man of moderate intelligence and was
obstinate. He was deposed during the French Revolution in 1789, and subsequently, executed in 1793
A.D.
Q.2: Identify Napoleon, telling the part played by him in the French Revolution.
Ans: Napoleon was a great French general, who won many battles for the revolutionary France and
raised his nation’s prestige.
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There was a time when he had become a terror for all the European monarchs.
But, in the end, his limited resources collapsed in the face of Fourth Coalition of the
European nations.
He was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 A.D. was sent as a prisoner to spend his
last days at the small island of St. Helena where he died unsung in the year 1821 A.D.
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