The French Revolution

  • Question 1
    CBSEENSS9008301

    Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.

    Solution

    The circumstances are described below:
    (i) The French Revolution was an uprising of the French people against autocracy and aristocracy. The French society was a feudal one ridden with inequalities. The clergy and the nobles belonged to the privileged class. They led a life of luxury and they exploited the common people. The peasants and workers, which consisted of the vast population, were compelled to live a wretched life. They were forced to pay heavy taxes and to do forced labours.

    (ii) The social inequalities and luxurious life of the clergy and nobles created discontentment and restlessness among the common people. The kings of France were absolute rulers. They believed in the Theory of Divine Rights of Kingship. They claimed themselves to be the representatives of God on earth.

    (iii) There were different laws in different areas and absence of any uniform system made the confusion worse confouned. People were really fed up with such a rotten system of government.

    (iv) In the second part of the 18th century, there was an intellectual Renaissance in France. The Great French philosophers like Montesquieu, Rousseau and Voltaire exploited the social shortcomings. They fanned the flame of revolution. The American Revolution and Declaration of Independence by American revolutionaries roused the people of France to overthrow the oppressive king and his nobility.

    (v) In 1788, there spread a severe famine in many parts of France. People suffering from hunger assembled in streets of Paris. The state treasure had fallen empty. Emperor Louis XVI was compelled to summon a meeting of the Estate General in 1789 after a lapse of 175 years. The first two Estates i.e., the clergy and nobility refused to have a common meeting with the Third Estate. It generated much excitement and lost their temper. With the meeting of Estate General on the 5th May, 1789 the French Revolution began.

    Question 2
    CBSEENSS9008302

    Which groups of French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?

    Solution

    The Third Estate hugely benefited from revolution. This comprised the professional classes, small and big businessmen, small and big peasants, landless labourers and servants. Most of them got land to till, the burden of taxation was removed and rule of law was established.

    The First and Second Estate were forced to relinquish power, the churches were shutdown and the church property was confiscated. The predominance of First and Second Estate over administration, social and economic privileges were abolished and equality was established.

    The common people were disappointed with the outcome of the revolution. Although principles of equality, liberty and fraternity were implemented in France, the French society remained a divided house between haves and havenots. 

    Question 3
    CBSEENSS9008303

    Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

    Solution

    The legacy of the French Revolution for the people of the world during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are described below:
    (i)Impact on England: The French Revolution made deep effects on the neighbouring country of England. In the beginning English reacted very happily to the French Revolution. They gave it the name “Dawn of a new era”. But the ‘Reign of Terror’ in France frightened the English. Burke who was in favour of French Revolution began to oppose it. He adopted a policy of repression.


    (ii)Impact on America: French Revolution made a great effect on American sub-continent. France abolished slavery from its colonies. Haiti, a colony of France, became a democratic country. Soon after, the revolutions spread in North as well as in South America to end the foreign rule and to establish republics. All the colonies under Portugal and Spain became independent. These had been encouraged by French Revolution about their success. In these independent countries also, slavery was abolished because it was against the principle of equality enunciated by France.

    (iii)French Revolution inspired the world with the following ideas :

    Equality: Equality was a principle of French Revolution. This removed the distinction between the poor and the rich. Every government began to give equal rights to the rich and the poor.

    Liberty: Before the French Revolution, freedom meant political freedom but now freedom meant social and religious freedom too. The welfare of the people was to be the duty of the king. Therefore, they were no longer absolute kings.

    Fraternity: The idea of fraternity also got an impetus from French Revolution.

    Democracy: Monarchical systems yielded place to the democratic system.

    Welfare of the people: Now every government began to think about the welfare of the people as its duty. The children were stopped from working in the factories. The conditions in the factories were improved. A number of steps were taken to improve the working conditions in the mines.
    Question 4
    CBSEENSS9008304

    Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution.

    Solution

    The following democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution:


    (i) Law is the expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to participate in its formation, personally or through their representatives. All citizens are equal before it.

    (ii)No man may be accused, arrested or detained, except in cases determined by the law.

    (iii)Every citizen may speak, write and print freely; he must take responsibility for the abuse of such liberty in cases determined by the law.

    (iv)For the maintenance of the public force and for the expenses of administration a common tax is indispensable; it must be assessed equally on all citizens in proportion to their means.

    (v)Since property is a sacred and inviolable right, no one may be deprived of it, unless a legally established public necessity requires. In that case, a just compensation must be given in advance.

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