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NOTES The French Revolution

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26 views4 pages

NOTES The French Revolution

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elitedanger0001
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NOTES The French Revolution

Q.1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of


revolutionary protest in France?
Ans. There were some causes which led to the outbreak of revolutionary
protest.
They are as follows:
(a) Privileges based on birth
There were rich people in the society who received privileges by birth leading
to resentment among common people.
(b) The war with Britain for an independent America

• Due to this war, there was a high debt on the French monarchy.
Independent War of America
• For the repayment of those debts, many new taxes were imposed on the
common people.

(c) Concentration of power among the privileged


There was no equal division of power in the society. The 3rd estate was
only had to pay taxes.
(d) Subsistence Crisis
There was a demand-supply gap of bread due to the increasing population
and less production of grain.
(e) Growing middle Class

• A new class emerged due to the increase in overseas trade.


• As the people of the middle class were educated and believed in the idea
of equal distribution of wealth, they began raising their voice to end the
privileges on the basis of the right of birth.

Q.2. 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?
Ans.
(a)

• The wealthy class of the third estate, which came to be known as the
new middle class of France benefited the most from the revolution. This
group comprised of big businessmen, petty officers, lawyers, teachers,
doctors and traders.
• Previously, these people had to pay state taxes, and they did not enjoy
equal status. But after the revolution, they began to be treated equally
with the upper sections of the society.
(b)

• With the abolition of feudal system of obligation and taxes, the clergy
and the nobility came on the same level with the middle class.
• They were forced to give up their privileges. Their executive powers were
also taken away from them.

(c)

• Thepoorer sections of the society, i.e. small peasants, landless labourers,


servants, daily wage earners would have been disappointed with the
outcome of the revolution.
• Women also would have been highly discontented.

Q.3. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of
the world during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries?
Ans.

• The French Revolution proved to be the most important event in the


history of the world.
• The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy
of the French Revolution. These ideas became an umpiring force for the
political movements in the world in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• The ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity spread from France to the
rest of Europe, the system was finally abolished.
• Colonised people reworked on the idea of freedom from bondage into their
movements to create a sovereign nation-state.
• The idea of Nationalism that emerged after the French Revolution started
becoming mass movements all over the world. Now people began to
question the absolute power.
• The impact of the French Revolution would be seen in India too. Tipu
Sultan and Raja Ram Mohan Roy got deeply influenced by the ideas of
the revolution.
• In the end, we can say that after the French Revolution people all over the
world became aware of their rights.
Q.4. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins
could be traced to the French Revolution?
Ans.
The following fundamental rights given in the Indian constitution can be
traced to the French Revolution:

• The right to equality, including equality before the law, the prohibition of
discrimination, and equality of opportunity in matters of employment.
• The right to freedom of speech and expression, including the right to
practice any profession or occupation.
• Right against exploitation was not the right provided by the French.
• Right to assemble and form unions.
• Right to life.
• Right to vote.

Q.5. Would you agree with the view that the message of universal
rights was beset with contradictions? Explain.
Ans.

• The contradiction that follows in the message of universal rights as per the
French Constitution of 1791 was women being completely ignored.
Women were struggling for equal political rights. All the rights at that
time were given to men.
• Apart from that, the presence of a huge number of people as passive
citizens, without voting rights, was like not putting into practice what you
preach.
• It could also be said that the declaration of universal rights was a good
beginning, but it left much to be desired. In this universal rights, the poor
were suppressed.
• The Constitution is only available for the rich. Women were completely
neglected in decision making.

Q.6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?


Ans.

• The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of
Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon had achieved glorious victories in wars.
Napoleon Bonaparte
• This made France realize that only a military dictator like Napoleon would
restore a stable government.
• In 1804, he crowned himself the emperor of France. He set out to conquer
neighbouring European countries, dispossessing dynasties and creating
kingdoms where he placed members of his family.
• Napoleon viewed himself as a modernizer of Europe. He introduced many
laws, such as the protection of private property and a uniform system of
weight and measures provided by the decimal system.
• But
his rise to power did not last for a long time. He was finally defeated at
Waterloo in 1815.

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