French Revolution Final Answers Format
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abhay070803French Revolution Final Answers Format
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abhay070803CBSE Class 9 – History: The French
Revolution – Questions with Answers
1 Mark Questions – Objective and Very Short Answers
1. The Bastille was stormed on:
(a) 5 May 1789 (b) 14 July 1789 (c) 20 June 1789 (d) 26 August 1789
Answer: (b) 14 July 1789
2. The term *livre* refers to:
(a) A law passed during the revolution (b) A French unit of currency (c) A tax collected
by the church (d) A title given to the king
Answer: (b) A French unit of currency
3. What was the Old Regime in France?
4. Name the three estates in French society.
5. What is meant by a subsistence crisis?
3 Mark Questions – Short Answer
1. Why was the Bastille hated by all?
2. Explain any three causes that led to the French Revolution.
3. How did philosophers influence the French Revolution?
4. Describe the system of estates in 18th century French society.
5. What role did the middle class play in the French Revolution?
5 Mark Questions – Long Answer
1. Explain the outbreak of the French Revolution with reference to:
- Role of Louis XVI
- Financial crisis
- Inequality in society
2. What was the significance of the storming of the Bastille?
3. How did the political and economic conditions of France lead to revolution?
4. Discuss how the Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas inspired the revolution.
• The clergy and nobility enjoyed privileges while the commoners paid taxes and had no
political rights.
• It included an absolute monarchy and a rigid estate system.
• The Old Regime was the social and political system in France before 1789.
• Third Estate: Commoners (peasants, workers, professionals), paid all taxes.
• Second Estate: Nobility, wealthy and also tax-exempt.
• First Estate: Clergy, exempt from taxes and very powerful.
• This caused immense suffering among the poor and triggered unrest.
• In 18th century France, poor harvests led to food shortages and rising bread prices.
• A subsistence crisis occurs when people cannot afford basic food items.
• Its storming on 14 July 1789 marked the people’s resistance and became a symbol of
the Revolution.
• Political prisoners were jailed without trial under the king’s order.
• The Bastille symbolized royal tyranny and arbitrary imprisonment.
• Enlightenment Ideas: Thinkers promoted liberty and questioned absolute monarchy.
• Economic Crisis: Food scarcity and rising bread prices caused anger.
• Social Inequality: Only the Third Estate paid taxes.
• Montesquieu proposed separation of powers. Their ideas inspired demands for
reform.
• Rousseau argued for a social contract and equality.
• Locke promoted natural rights and government by consent.
• The inequality and lack of political voice led to dissatisfaction and unrest.
• Third Estate included peasants, workers, and middle class who paid all taxes.
• First Estate (clergy) and Second Estate (nobles) were privileged.
• Led the formation of the National Assembly and demanded change.
• Spread Enlightenment ideas through writings and speeches.
• They were educated and economically strong but politically powerless.
• Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 marked the beginning of the revolution.
• The Third Estate formed the National Assembly to represent the people.
• The Estates-General voting system was unfair to the Third Estate.
• Enlightenment thinkers promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• Third Estate bore heavy taxes and struggled with food scarcity.
• The First and Second Estates were exempted from taxes.
• France faced a deep financial crisis due to wars and court expenses.
• Louis XVI spent extravagantly and increased national debt.
• It is celebrated as French National Day, representing unity and resistance.
• Marked the end of royal tyranny and beginning of people’s power.
• It inspired uprisings across France and spread revolutionary fervor.
• Its fall on 14 July 1789 became a symbol of liberty and revolution.
• The Bastille was a prison that symbolized the king’s absolute power.
• Together, these conditions triggered widespread protests and the revolution.
• Enlightenment ideas encouraged people to demand rights and justice.
• Bad harvests caused food shortages and high bread prices.
• Wars and royal spending worsened the financial crisis.
• Commoners paid all taxes while clergy and nobles were exempt.
• France had an absolute monarchy with no public representation.
• Their ideas spread among the educated class and inspired people to demand change.
• These thinkers criticized monarchy and promoted equality and justice.
• Montesquieu emphasized separation of powers to prevent tyranny.
• Rousseau supported the idea of popular sovereignty and social contract.
• John Locke advocated natural rights: life, liberty, and property.