Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follows : [3]
Source A – The Outbreak of the Revolution
After spending hours in long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormed into the shops. At
the same time, the king ordered troops to move into Paris. On 14 July, the agitated crowd stormed and
destroyed the Bastille.
Source B – France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic
Rulers of other neighbouring countries too were worried by the developments in France and made
plans to send troops to put down the events that had been taking place there since the summer of 1789.
Before this could happen, the National Assembly voted in April 1792 to declare war against Prussia
and Austria. Thousands of volunteers thronged from the provinces to join the army. They saw this as a
war of the people against kings and aristocracies all over Europe.
Source C – What is liberty ? Two conflicting views
‘To establish and consolidate democracy, to achieve the peaceful rule of constitutional laws, we must
first finish the war of liberty against tyranny .... We must annihilate the enemies of the republic at
home and abroad, or else we shall perish. In time of Revolution a democratic government may rely on
terror. Terror is nothing but justice, swift, severe and infl exible; ... and is used to meet the most urgent
needs of the fatherland. To curb the enemies of Liberty through terror is the right of the founder of the
Republic.’
Source A — The Outbreak of the Revolution
27(1) Why was there anger among the people ?
Source – France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic
27 (2) What do you think the reason behind the worries of the rulers of the neighbouring countries ?
Source C – What is liberty? Two conflicting views
27 (3) Do you think Robespierre was really leading the war against the enemies of the republic ?
Answers
Answer:
The French Revolution Class 9 Notes Social Science History Chapter 1
After analysis of the previous 3 years’ examination papers, it is concluded that the following topics are the most important concepts from this chapter and should be focussed upon.
The outbreak of the French Revolution
Changes after Revolution
Classes of French Societies
Facts about Napoleon, the former emperor of France.
The French Society during the Late 18th Century-
The French Society comprised :
1st Estate: Clergy
2nd Estate: Nobility
3rd Estate: Big businessmen, merchants, court officials, peasants, artisans, landless laborers, servants, etc.
Some within the Third Estate were rich and some were poor.
The burden of financing activities of the state through taxes was borne by the Third Estate alone.
The Struggle for Survival: Population of France grew and so did the demand for grains. The gap between the rich and poor widened. This led to subsistence crises.
The Growing Middle Class: This estate was educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth. These ideas were put forward by philosophers such as Locke the English philosopher and Rousseau the French philosopher. The American Constitution and its guarantee of individual rights was an important example of political theories of France. These ideas were discussed intensively in salons and coffee houses and spread among people through books and newspapers. These were even read aloud.
The Outbreak of the Revolution
The French Revolution went through various stages. When Louis XVI became the king of France in 1774, he inherited a treasury which was empty. There was growing discontent within the society of the Old Regime.
1789: Convocation of Estates General. The Third Estate forms National Assembly, Tennis Court Oath the Bastille is stormed, peasant revolts in the countryside, Assembly issues Declaration of the Rights of Man.
1791: A constitution is framed to limit the powers of the king and to guarantee the basic right to all human beings.
1792-93: Convention abolishes Monarchy; France becomes a republic. The Jacobin Republic overthrown, a Directory rules France.
1795: New Constitution is adopted. A new Convention appointed a five-man Directorate to run the state from 26th October 1795. Churches reopened.
1799: The Revolution ends with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon’s coup abolishes Directory and establishes Consulate.
Time Line: The French Revolution
1770s-1780s: Economic decline: French Government in deep debt. In 1774, Louis XVI ascends to the throne.
1788-1789: Bad harvest, high prices, food riots.
1789, May 5: Estates-General convened, demands reforms.
1789, July 14: National Assembly formed. Bastille stormed on July 14. French Revolution starts.
1789, August 4: Night of August 4 ends the rights of the aristocracy, the surrender of feudal rights.