Part A – MCQs (20 Questions)
Q1. When did the French Revolution begin?
a) 1789
b) 1776
c) 1799
d) 1804
Answer: a) 1789
Q2. Who formed the First Estate in France?
a) Clergy
b) Nobility
c) Peasants
d) Middle Class
Answer: a) Clergy
Q3. The Bastille was a symbol of –
a) Liberty
b) Royal Despotism
c) Democracy
d) Equality
Answer: b) Royal Despotism
Q4. Louis XVI was executed in –
a) 1791
b) 1792
c) 1793
d) 1794
Answer: c) 1793
Q5. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was inspired by –
a) American Revolution
b) Russian Revolution
c) Chinese Revolution
d) Glorious Revolution
Answer: a) American Revolution
Q6. Which philosopher gave the idea of separation of powers?
a) Rousseau
b) Voltaire
c) Montesquieu
d) Locke
Answer: c) Montesquieu
Q7. The word “Guillotine” refers to –
a) A sword
b) A tax
c) A beheading device
d) A revolutionary leader
Answer: c) A beheading device
Q8. The Jacobins were led by –
a) Napoleon
b) Robespierre
c) Danton
d) Mirabeau
Answer: b) Robespierre
Q9. The Third Estate included –
a) Clergy
b) Nobility
c) Peasants, workers, bourgeoisie
d) Army
Answer: c) Peasants, workers, bourgeoisie
Q10. Matching Question: Match the following –
A. Clergy → (i) Second Estate
B. Nobility → (ii) First Estate
C. Peasants → (iii) Third Estate
Options:
a) A–ii, B–i, C–iii
b) A–i, B–ii, C–iii
c) A–ii, B–iii, C–i
d) A–iii, B–ii, C–i
Answer: a) A–ii, B–i, C–iii
Q11. Which tax was directly paid by the peasants?
a) Taille
b) Gabelle
c) Both a and b
d) None
Answer: c) Both a and b
Q12. Which group of women led the march to Versailles in October 1789?
a) Women of Versailles palace
b) Women of Paris demanding bread
c) Women nobles demanding land
d) Women Jacobins
Answer: b) Women of Paris demanding bread
Q13. The slogan of the French Revolution was –
a) Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
b) Justice, Peace, Unity
c) Bread, Land, Peace
d) Democracy, Rights, Freedom
Answer: a) Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Q14. Napoleon crowned himself Emperor in –
a) 1799
b) 1802
c) 1804
d) 1815
Answer: c) 1804
Q15. Which philosopher wrote The Social Contract?
a) Voltaire
b) Rousseau
c) Montesquieu
d) Locke
Answer: b) Rousseau
Q16. This Image represents –
a) Women’s March to Versailles
b) Storming of the Bastille
c) Execution of Louis XVI
d) Rise of Napoleon
Answer: b) Storming of the Bastille
Q17. Which calendar was introduced during the revolution to break away from monarchy traditions?
a) Gregorian Calendar
b) Revolutionary Calendar
c) Solar Calendar
d) Napoleonic Calendar
Answer: b) Revolutionary Calendar
Q18. What was the Estates-General?
a) A tax system
b) A meeting of three estates
c) A court of nobles
d) A revolutionary group
Answer: b) A meeting of three estates
Q19. France became a republic in –
a) 1789
b) 1791
c) 1792
d) 1794
Answer: c) 1792
Q20. Case-based: The French economy was in crisis in the 1780s due to debt, wars, and court expenses. Which king ruled France then?
a) Louis XIV
b) Louis XV
c) Louis XVI
d) Louis XVII
Answer: c) Louis XVI
Part B – Assertion/Reason (20 Questions)
(Options for all: A = Both correct, R explains A; B = Both correct, R doesn’t explain A; C = A correct, R wrong; D = A wrong, R correct)
Q21. Assertion: The storming of the Bastille was a symbolic event.
Reason: Bastille was seen as a symbol of royal tyranny.
Answer: A
Q22. Assertion: The French clergy enjoyed many privileges.
Reason: They were exempted from paying taxes.
Answer: A
Q23. Assertion: Peasants were free from feudal dues.
Reason: Nobility shared land equally with peasants.
Answer: D
Q24. Assertion: Louis XVI increased taxes in 1789.
Reason: The state treasury was empty due to wars.
Answer: A
Q25. Assertion: The Constitution of 1791 gave equal rights to all citizens.
Reason: Women were allowed to vote.
Answer: C
Q26. Assertion: The Jacobins wanted a monarchy.
Reason: They supported the king’s absolute powers.
Answer: D
Q27. Assertion: France became a republic in 1792.
Reason: The monarchy was abolished.
Answer: A
Q28. Assertion: Robespierre followed a policy of severe control.
Reason: It is called the Reign of Terror.
Answer: A
Q29. Assertion: Napoleon introduced many reforms in France.
Reason: He destroyed equality and freedom.
Answer: B
Q30. Assertion: The ideas of philosophers inspired the revolution.
Reason: They criticized privileges of the clergy and nobility.
Answer: A
Q31. Assertion: The Estates-General meeting was called in May 1789.
Reason: Louis XVI wanted to increase taxes.
Answer: A
Q32. Assertion: Sans-culottes were rich nobles.
Reason: They wore knee-breeches as a mark of pride.
Answer: D
Q33. Assertion: The Directory was formed after Robespierre’s fall.
Reason: It had two elected legislative councils.
Answer: A
Q34. Assertion: The Revolution influenced other countries.
Reason: It spread the ideas of liberty and equality.
Answer: A
Q35. Assertion: France abolished slavery in 1794.
Reason: The Jacobins believed in universal human rights.
Answer: A
Q36. Assertion: Only the First Estate paid taxes.
Reason: The clergy had fewer privileges.
Answer: D
Q37. Assertion: Napoleon’s rule was democratic.
Reason: He held elections with universal suffrage.
Answer: D
Q38. Assertion: The Guillotine was used during the Reign of Terror.
Reason: It symbolized equality in death.
Answer: A
Q39. Assertion: The Revolution ended monarchy in France.
Reason: It established democracy permanently.
Answer: B
Q40. Assertion: The Revolution inspired movements in Asia and Latin America.
Reason: Its principles were universal.
Answer: A
Part C – Very Short Answer (20 Questions, 40 words each)
Q41. What was the Estates System in France?
Answer: French society was divided into three estates: First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (peasants, workers, bourgeoisie). The First and Second Estates enjoyed privileges, while the Third Estate bore the burden of taxes.
Q42. Who were the bourgeoisie?
Answer: The bourgeoisie were the middle-class section of the Third Estate, including merchants, lawyers, teachers, and professionals. They were educated, wealthy, and strongly influenced by Enlightenment ideas, playing a major role in demanding reforms.
Q43. Why was the Bastille stormed on 14 July 1789?
Answer: People of Paris stormed the Bastille because it symbolized royal tyranny, held political prisoners, and contained arms and ammunition. The event became a symbol of the people’s revolt against the monarchy.
Q44. What was the importance of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?
Answer: The declaration proclaimed freedom, equality before law, and natural rights like liberty, property, and security. It laid the foundation of modern democratic principles and inspired revolutions worldwide.
Q45. Who were the Jacobins?
Answer: Jacobins were radical revolutionaries led by Robespierre. Their supporters included small shopkeepers, workers, artisans, and peasants. They wore long trousers and were known as Sans-culottes.
Q46. Define the Reign of Terror.
Answer: The Reign of Terror (1793–94) was the period when Robespierre ruled France with harsh measures. Suspected enemies of the revolution were executed by guillotine, and severe control was imposed on society.
Q47. What role did women play in the revolution?
Answer: Women actively participated by forming clubs, demanding equal rights, organizing petitions, and marching to Versailles for bread. However, they were denied the right to vote in the Constitution of 1791.
Q48. Name two philosophers who influenced the revolution.
Answer: Rousseau, who wrote The Social Contract promoting general will, and Montesquieu, who proposed separation of powers, inspired revolutionary ideas in France.
Q49. What was the Directory?
Answer: After Robespierre’s fall, the Directory was formed in 1795. It consisted of two legislative councils and an executive of five members, but it proved unstable and corrupt.
Q50. How did Napoleon rise to power?
Answer: Napoleon rose as a successful military general. In 1799, he staged a coup, overthrew the Directory, and later crowned himself Emperor in 1804, bringing political stability to France.
Q51. What were feudal dues?
Answer: Peasants had to pay taxes and perform unpaid services for nobles, such as working on their land, hunting restrictions, and paying dues in cash or kind. These were deeply resented.
Q52. Why was France in economic crisis before the revolution?
Answer: France suffered due to costly wars (like support for American Revolution), lavish spending by the monarchy, crop failures, and rising bread prices, forcing the king to raise taxes.
Q53. What was the Tennis Court Oath?
Answer: In June 1789, representatives of the Third Estate gathered at a tennis court and vowed not to disperse until they had drafted a constitution ensuring rights and equality for French citizens.
Q54. Why was the monarchy unpopular in France?
Answer: The monarchy was seen as extravagant, oppressive, and indifferent to people’s suffering. The king increased taxes instead of reforms, and the queen Marie Antoinette was hated for her luxuries.
Q55. Who were Sans-culottes?
Answer: They were common people of Paris, including artisans and workers, who wore long trousers instead of knee-breeches. They supported the Jacobins and demanded equality and justice.
Q56. What was the significance of 14 July 1789 in world history?
Answer: The storming of the Bastille marked the start of the French Revolution. It symbolized the end of monarchy and inspired revolutionary movements worldwide.
Q57. How did the Revolution affect slavery?
Answer: The Jacobins abolished slavery in French colonies in 1794. However, Napoleon later reintroduced it, and it was permanently abolished in 1848.
Q58. What changes did the Constitution of 1791 bring?
Answer: It limited monarchy’s power, introduced separation of powers, and gave voting rights only to wealthy men. Women and poor men were excluded.
Q59. What was the guillotine?
Answer: It was a device used for executions, consisting of a heavy blade that beheaded people quickly. It became a symbol of equality in punishment during the Reign of Terror.
Q60. Who was Robespierre?
Answer: Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobins. He introduced strict laws, controlled prices, rationed food, and executed opponents during the Reign of Terror (1793–94).
Part D – Short Answer Questions (20 Questions, 60 words each)
Q61. Why did the French government increase taxes under Louis XVI?
Answer: Louis XVI inherited an empty treasury. France had spent heavily on wars, including support to the American Revolution. The luxurious court of Versailles and rising costs of bread worsened the situation. To cover expenses, the king increased taxes, which angered the already burdened Third Estate.
Q62. Explain the role of philosophers in bringing about the French Revolution.
Answer: Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire spread ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy. Montesquieu suggested separation of powers, Rousseau emphasized the general will, and Voltaire promoted freedom of speech. Their writings inspired the educated middle class to challenge monarchy and privileges.
Q63. What was the Tennis Court Oath and why was it significant?
Answer: On 20 June 1789, the representatives of the Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath, pledging not to separate until they framed a new constitution. It marked the beginning of defiance against the king and laid the foundation of a constitutional government in France.
Q64. Why was the storming of the Bastille an important event?
Answer: The Bastille represented royal despotism. On 14 July 1789, revolutionaries stormed it, seeking arms and ammunition. The event symbolized the end of monarchy’s absolute power. Its fall encouraged revolts in rural France and became a symbol of liberty worldwide.
Q65. What economic hardships were faced by the common people of France?
Answer: France faced repeated crop failures leading to food scarcity, high bread prices, and starvation. Wages remained stagnant while taxes like taille and gabelle burdened peasants. The nobility and clergy enjoyed privileges, making inequality unbearable for the Third Estate.
Q66. Explain the role of women in the French Revolution.
Answer: Women participated by forming clubs, raising demands for education, equal rights, and political participation. The Women’s March to Versailles in October 1789 forced the king to shift to Paris. However, they were denied voting rights in the 1791 Constitution.
Q67. Who were Sans-culottes and what was their role?
Answer: Sans-culottes were common revolutionaries, mainly artisans and workers, who wore long trousers. They supported Jacobins, participated in demonstrations, opposed monarchy, and demanded price controls. Their activism pushed the revolution in a more radical direction.
Q68. What was the Constitution of 1791?
Answer: The Constitution of 1791 limited monarchy and introduced separation of powers. Powers were divided among legislature, executive, and judiciary. Only wealthy men above a certain tax-paying capacity could vote. It marked the shift from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
Q69. What was the Reign of Terror?
Answer: The Reign of Terror (1793–94) was a period under Robespierre when harsh measures were imposed. Suspected enemies of the revolution were guillotined, food was rationed, and wages fixed. Though it defended the republic, it caused widespread fear and instability.
Q70. How did the fall of Robespierre change France?
Answer: Robespierre’s execution in 1794 ended the Reign of Terror. A new government called the Directory was established, consisting of five executives and two legislative councils. However, it was weak and corrupt, paving the way for Napoleon’s rise.
Q71. What changes did Napoleon bring in France?
Answer: Napoleon introduced reforms like standardized laws (Napoleonic Code), administrative efficiency, merit-based appointments, and modern education. He abolished feudal privileges, spread revolutionary ideals across Europe, but his rule turned authoritarian after he crowned himself Emperor in 1804.
Q72. Why did peasants in France revolt against the nobles?
Answer: Peasants resented paying feudal dues, tithes to the Church, and direct taxes like taille and gabelle. They had no privileges, faced food scarcity, and were often exploited by nobles. This inequality fueled their anger and participation in the revolution.
Q73. What was the impact of the French Revolution on the world?
Answer: The French Revolution spread the ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity, and democracy worldwide. It inspired revolts in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. It also led to the abolition of feudalism and slavery in colonies.
Q74. Describe the importance of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
Answer: Passed in 1789, it proclaimed that men are born free and equal, guaranteed rights like liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. It rejected privileges of clergy and nobility and became the foundation of modern democratic principles.
Q75. Why was the monarchy abolished in France?
Answer: The monarchy was seen as corrupt and oppressive. Louis XVI conspired with foreign powers, leading to distrust. In 1792, after the king’s betrayal and people’s revolt, monarchy was abolished and France was declared a republic.
Q76. How did the French Revolution affect the status of women?
Answer: Women actively participated in protests, formed clubs, and demanded equality. Some gained education and rights to divorce and property. However, they were excluded from political rights and voting. Their struggle laid foundations for future feminist movements.
Q77. What was the Estates-General?
Answer: The Estates-General was a meeting of representatives from three estates. In May 1789, Louis XVI called it to raise taxes. Disagreements over voting led the Third Estate to break away and form the National Assembly, beginning the revolution.
Q78. What was the Directory and why did it fail?
Answer: The Directory (1795–99) replaced Robespierre’s rule. It had two legislative councils and an executive of five members. Weak leadership, corruption, and military dependence made it unstable, leading to Napoleon’s takeover.
Q79. How did revolutionary France abolish slavery?
Answer: In 1794, the Jacobins abolished slavery in colonies due to pressure from abolitionist groups and revolts in colonies like Saint Domingue. However, Napoleon later restored slavery in 1802, until it was permanently abolished in 1848.
Q80. How did the French Revolution end feudalism?
Answer: In August 1789, the National Assembly abolished feudal privileges, tithes, and dues. Nobles lost exclusive rights, and peasants were freed from feudal oppression. This marked the end of feudalism in France.
Part E – Long Answer Questions (20 Questions, 120 words each)
Q81. Describe the social conditions of France before the French Revolution.
Answer: French society was divided into three estates. The First Estate (clergy) and Second Estate (nobility) enjoyed privileges, including exemption from taxes. The Third Estate, which included peasants, workers, and bourgeoisie, bore the burden of taxes like taille and gabelle. Peasants paid feudal dues and tithes. Rising bread prices and crop failures caused widespread hunger. The bourgeoisie, though educated and wealthy, were denied political rights. Social inequality and privileges caused resentment, making the Third Estate demand change, which ultimately triggered the French Revolution.
Q82. Explain the causes of the French Revolution.
Answer: The French Revolution was caused by political, social, economic, and intellectual factors. Politically, the monarchy was autocratic and inefficient. Socially, the First and Second Estates enjoyed privileges while the Third Estate faced exploitation. Economically, France suffered from war debts, heavy taxation, food scarcity, and rising bread prices. Intellectually, Enlightenment philosophers like Rousseau and Montesquieu spread ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy. The Estates-General dispute in 1789 triggered the revolution.
Q83. What were the main features of the Constitution of 1791?
Answer: The Constitution of 1791 limited the powers of monarchy and established a constitutional monarchy. Legislative power was given to an elected assembly, while executive power remained with the king but under restrictions. The judiciary was made independent. Voting rights were restricted to active citizens—men who paid a certain amount of taxes—while women and the poor were excluded. The Constitution ensured separation of powers, equality before law, and abolition of feudal privileges.
Q84. Explain the role of the Jacobins during the revolution.
Answer: The Jacobins, led by Robespierre, were the most radical group. Their members included workers, artisans, small shopkeepers, and peasants. They wore long trousers and were called Sans-culottes. They overthrew the monarchy in 1792, established a republic, and introduced reforms like universal male suffrage and price controls. Robespierre imposed strict laws during the Reign of Terror, executing enemies by guillotine. The Jacobins played a crucial role in protecting the republic but their extremism led to Robespierre’s downfall in 1794.
Q85. What was the Reign of Terror? Why did it fail?
Answer: The Reign of Terror (1793–94) was led by Robespierre to safeguard the revolution. He imposed strict price controls, rationed food, and executed thousands suspected of opposing the revolution. While it protected France temporarily from internal and external threats, the excessive violence and fear alienated people. Robespierre was accused of dictatorship and executed in 1794. The Reign of Terror failed because it relied on fear rather than popular support, leading to the rise of the Directory.
Q86. Discuss the role of philosophers in inspiring the revolution.
Answer: Enlightenment philosophers criticized monarchy and privileges. Montesquieu advocated separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judiciary. Rousseau, in The Social Contract, argued for government based on the general will. Voltaire emphasized freedom of speech and religion. Locke supported natural rights. Their writings spread through books, pamphlets, and salons, inspiring the educated middle class to challenge the old order. These ideas created an intellectual foundation for the French Revolution, influencing the National Assembly and the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
Q87. How did the Revolution affect women?
Answer: Women played an active role in the French Revolution. They marched to Versailles in October 1789 demanding bread, formed political clubs, and presented petitions for equality. Writers like Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights in her Declaration of the Rights of Woman. Women gained rights to divorce, property, and education, but were denied voting rights. Their political clubs were later banned. Though disappointed, their struggle laid the foundation for modern feminism and women’s rights movements.
Q88. Explain the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Answer: Napoleon rose to power due to military success and public discontent with the weak Directory. In 1799, he staged a coup and became First Consul. In 1804, he crowned himself Emperor. He introduced reforms like the Napoleonic Code, centralized administration, and merit-based appointments. However, his expansionist wars drained resources. The disastrous invasion of Russia (1812) and defeat at Waterloo (1815) ended his rule. Though authoritarian, Napoleon spread revolutionary ideals across Europe.
Q89. How did the French Revolution abolish slavery?
Answer: Slavery existed in French colonies like Martinique and Saint Domingue, where enslaved Africans worked on sugar and coffee plantations. Abolitionists demanded equality, and revolts in colonies increased pressure. In 1794, the Jacobins abolished slavery, declaring all men free. However, Napoleon reintroduced slavery in 1802. The final abolition came in 1848. The temporary abolition during the Revolution highlighted its commitment to liberty and equality, though not fully realized until later.
Q90. What impact did the Revolution have on France and the world?
Answer: In France, the Revolution abolished feudalism, privileges, and monarchy. It established equality before law, constitutional government, and modern reforms. Globally, it inspired revolutions in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Ideas of liberty, democracy, and nationalism spread widely. The Revolution also influenced the abolition of slavery and rise of modern citizenship. Despite violence, it reshaped the political and social order of the world.
Q91. Why was Louis XVI unpopular among the people?
Answer: Louis XVI was seen as extravagant, incompetent, and indifferent to people’s suffering. He increased taxes to fund wars and luxuries, while peasants starved. His queen, Marie Antoinette, was hated for her extravagance. Louis failed to implement reforms, conspired with foreign powers, and attempted to flee in 1791. These actions destroyed his credibility, leading to his execution in 1793.
Q92. Describe the role of peasants in the French Revolution.
Answer: Peasants faced heavy taxation, feudal dues, and food scarcity. Inspired by revolutionary ideas, they revolted in the countryside, attacked nobles’ estates, destroyed feudal records, and refused to pay dues. Their uprising in 1789 forced the National Assembly to abolish feudal privileges. Peasants ensured the Revolution was not limited to cities but spread throughout rural France.
Q93. What was the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen?
Answer: Adopted in August 1789, it proclaimed that men are born free and equal in rights. It guaranteed liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. It established equality before law and abolished feudal privileges. Inspired by Enlightenment and the American Revolution, it became the foundation of democratic rights worldwide.
Q94. Explain how the Revolution influenced other countries.
Answer: The French Revolution inspired political movements in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Nationalist movements in Italy and Germany were influenced by revolutionary ideals. It encouraged struggles for independence in Latin America. In India, reformers admired its principles. The ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity became global, shaping modern democratic societies.
Q95. What was the role of the Directory? Why did it collapse?
Answer: The Directory governed France from 1795–99 with two legislative councils and five executives. It ended the Reign of Terror but faced corruption, inefficiency, and dependence on the army. Economic problems and political instability weakened it. In 1799, Napoleon staged a coup and replaced the Directory, ending its rule.
Q96. How did Enlightenment ideas shape the French Revolution?
Answer: Enlightenment thinkers challenged monarchy, privileges, and superstition. Montesquieu’s idea of separation of powers, Rousseau’s emphasis on popular sovereignty, and Voltaire’s advocacy of rights inspired revolutionaries. Their writings spread through salons, pamphlets, and books, motivating the educated middle class to demand a new order based on liberty, equality, and democracy.
Q97. Explain the impact of the Revolution on French society.
Answer: The Revolution abolished feudal privileges, freed peasants from dues, and introduced equality before law. Clergy and nobility lost special rights. Education and merit gained importance over birth. Women gained limited rights. Slavery was abolished temporarily. The Revolution transformed French society into one based on principles of citizenship and equality.
Q98. How did the revolutionaries see education and press as important?
Answer: Revolutionaries believed education would create enlightened citizens who could participate in democracy. Newspapers and pamphlets spread revolutionary ideas widely, kept people informed, and encouraged debates on reforms. They became powerful tools to mobilize the masses and sustain revolutionary spirit.
Q99. What economic reforms were introduced during the Revolution?
Answer: The Revolution abolished feudal dues, standardized taxes, and introduced assignats (paper currency). Price controls were implemented during the Reign of Terror. Guild restrictions were removed, encouraging free trade. Land belonging to clergy and nobility was confiscated and sold to peasants. These reforms aimed to create equality and stabilize the economy.
Q100. How did the French Revolution mark the beginning of modern democracy?
Answer: The Revolution introduced principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It abolished monarchy and established a republic. The Declaration of Rights ensured individual freedoms. Feudal privileges were removed, and citizenship was emphasized. Although democracy was unstable, it created the foundation for modern democratic governments worldwide.
Part F – Case-Based Questions
Case 1 – Storming of the Bastille
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“The storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 was not only the destruction of a prison but the tearing down of a symbol of absolute monarchy. People of Paris, angered by rising bread prices and king’s indifference, attacked the fortress in search of arms and ammunition. Its fall became a defining moment in world history.”
Q1. What did the Bastille symbolize?
Answer: The Bastille symbolized royal despotism and absolute monarchy.
Q2. Why did people storm the Bastille?
Answer: They attacked it to find arms and ammunition and to protest against the monarchy’s oppression.
Q3. How did the fall of Bastille influence people in rural France?
Answer: It inspired peasants to revolt, attack nobles’ estates, and destroy feudal records.
Q4. Why is 14 July celebrated as France’s National Day today?
Answer: It marks the symbolic victory of people over monarchy and the birth of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Case 2 – Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen (1789)
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. The aim of every political association is the preservation of natural rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.”
Q1. When was this declaration adopted?
Answer: In August 1789.
Q2. Name any two natural rights mentioned.
Answer: Liberty and property.
Q3. Whose privileges were abolished by this declaration?
Answer: The clergy and nobility.
Q4. How did it influence modern democracy?
Answer: It laid the foundation for equality, justice, and democratic principles worldwide.
Case 3 – The Women’s March to Versailles (1789)
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“In October 1789, thousands of Parisian women marched to Versailles. Armed with clubs and broomsticks, they protested against the scarcity and high price of bread. They forced the king to return to Paris, bringing him under the people’s control.”
Q1. Why did the women march to Versailles?
Answer: They marched because of scarcity and high price of bread.
Q2. What weapons did they carry?
Answer: They carried clubs, broomsticks, and kitchen tools.
Q3. What was the outcome of this march?
Answer: The king was forced to shift from Versailles to Paris under people’s supervision.
Q4. What does this event show about women’s role in the revolution?
Answer: It shows women actively participated and influenced major events of the revolution.
Case 4 – The Tennis Court Oath (1789)
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“On 20 June 1789, the representatives of the Third Estate, locked out of their meeting hall, assembled in an indoor tennis court. They took an oath not to separate until they had drafted a new constitution for France.”
Q1. Who took the Tennis Court Oath?
Answer: The representatives of the Third Estate.
Q2. Why were they forced to assemble in a tennis court?
Answer: Because they were locked out of their meeting hall.
Q3. What did they pledge in the oath?
Answer: They pledged not to separate until they had drafted a new constitution.
Q4. Why was this oath significant?
Answer: It marked the beginning of defiance against the king and the rise of constitutional government.
Case 5 – Reign of Terror (1793–94)
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“Robespierre pursued a policy of severe control during 1793–94. Suspected enemies of the revolution were tried by revolutionary tribunals and executed by the guillotine. Food prices were fixed, bread was rationed, and peasants were forced to supply grain.”
Q1. Who led the Reign of Terror?
Answer: Robespierre.
Q2. How were enemies of the revolution punished?
Answer: They were executed by the guillotine.
Q3. Name one economic measure taken during this period.
Answer: Bread was rationed and prices were fixed.
Q4. Why was the Reign of Terror unpopular?
Answer: It created fear, hardship, and excessive violence in society.
Case 6 – Role of Philosophers
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“Rousseau argued that government should be based on the general will of the people. Montesquieu proposed separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judiciary. Voltaire spoke strongly against injustice and for freedom of speech.”
Q1. Who gave the idea of general will?
Answer: Rousseau.
Q2. What did Montesquieu propose?
Answer: Separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judiciary.
Q3. Which philosopher defended freedom of speech?
Answer: Voltaire.
Q4. How did these ideas influence the revolution?
Answer: They inspired people to challenge monarchy and demand liberty, equality, and democracy.
Case 7 – Execution of Louis XVI (1793)
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“Louis XVI was put on trial in 1792 for treason. He was found guilty of betraying the nation by conspiring with foreign powers. On 21 January 1793, he was publicly executed by the guillotine.”
Q1. Why was Louis XVI put on trial?
Answer: For treason and conspiring with foreign powers.
Q2. When was he executed?
Answer: On 21 January 1793.
Q3. How was he executed?
Answer: By the guillotine.
Q4. What impact did his execution have?
Answer: It marked the end of monarchy and establishment of the republic.
Case 8 – Abolition of Slavery
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“In 1794, the National Convention abolished slavery in French colonies. Enslaved people in colonies like Saint Domingue and Martinique were freed. However, Napoleon later reintroduced slavery in 1802, before it was finally abolished in 1848.”
Q1. When did France first abolish slavery?
Answer: In 1794.
Q2. Name any one French colony where slavery was practiced.
Answer: Saint Domingue / Martinique.
Q3. Who reintroduced slavery in 1802?
Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte.
Q4. When was slavery permanently abolished?
Answer: In 1848.
Case 9 – Rise of Napoleon
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power after the fall of the Directory. He became First Consul in 1799 and later crowned himself Emperor in 1804. He introduced the Napoleonic Code, abolished feudal privileges, and established administrative efficiency, though his rule became authoritarian.”
Q1. When did Napoleon become First Consul?
Answer: In 1799.
Q2. When did he crown himself Emperor?
Answer: In 1804.
Q3. Name one reform introduced by Napoleon.
Answer: The Napoleonic Code / abolition of feudal privileges / administrative efficiency.
Q4. Why is Napoleon’s rule criticized?
Answer: Because it became authoritarian and ignored democratic ideals.
Case 10 – Role of Women
Read the given text and answer the following questions (4):
Text:
“Women played an active role in the French Revolution. They demanded equal political rights, education, and wages. Olympe de Gouges wrote the ‘Declaration of the Rights of Woman’. However, revolutionary governments banned women’s clubs and denied them the right to vote.”
Q1. Name the woman who wrote ‘Declaration of the Rights of Woman’.
Answer: Olympe de Gouges.
Q2. What rights did women demand?
Answer: Equal political rights, education, and wages.
Q3. How did the revolutionary government treat women’s political clubs?
Answer: It banned them.
Q4. Were women given voting rights during the revolution?
Answer: No, they were denied voting rights.