WBBSE Solutions For Class 9 Fundamentals Of History Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Syllabus

France as the “Political Prison” and the “Museum of Economic Errors”-Brief analysis of taxation system example Corvee; Pre-revolutionary social structure of France and the idea of Divine Monarchy; Different critiques posed by Philosophers towards the French absolutism and fiscal policies (individual biography of philosophers not needed); Development of popular opinion in opposition to the existing social hierarchy and unequal distribution of wealth; Opposition to the Monarchy by the Aristocracy.

Fall of the Bastille-Conflict of the Royalty with the Girondists and the Jacobins regarding the Estates General; Tennis Court Oath; Storming of the Bastille; Fall of Bastille as a symbol of the downfall of the French Monarchy, National Constituent Assembly; Execution of the King.

WBBSE Solutions For Class 9 Fundamentals Of History

Call to save the Revolution-Internal crises and foreign attacks on the Revolution; Jacobin rule. Peoples’Revolution, People of the Revolution-Connections between the people of the lower strata of French society and the French Revolution; Participation of urban and rural poor in the Revolution; Women and the French Revolution, Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen; Role of rumors in mass psychology (brief analysis).

Liberte, Egalite, The larger impact of the ideals of the French Revolution; New French Constitution; Abolition of Feudalism; Declaration of the democratic Rights of the Citizens.

Did you know? Ancien Regime; Third Estate; Bourgeoisie; “The Reign of Terror”; Tipu Sultan and the Jacobin Club; Sans Culottes.

(Contemporary paintings of/on the French Revolution and its different aspects. Maps during the time of the Revolution, Diagram on Pre-Revolutionary French social structure. Timeline of the Revolution).

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Synopsis

1. End of the Ancient Regine:

Before the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, France was under the Ancien Regine marked by automatic rule by the Bourbon dynasty, centralized administration, inherited privilege of the nobility, exploitation of the commoners, etc.

The reign of the Bourbon Monarch Louis XVI witnessed an extremely significant event in the history of Europe—the French Revolution (1789). The Revolution was the culmination of protests against absolute monarchy, social injustice, economic and political exploitation, and the preaching of the philosophers Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, etc.

2. Conflict of the Royalty with the Third Estate:

The summoning of the States General by Louis XVI and the subsequent attempt to thwart the demand of the Third Estate members for individual voting rights resulted in the famous “Tennis Court Oath’. By this oath, the Third Estate decided not to disperse until a new constitution of France was drawn. The oath declared the end of the absolute monarchy and the beginning of peoples’ sovereignty.

3. The fall of the Bastille :

In the meantime, the mob attacked the Fort of Bastille on 14th July 1789 and set the prisoners free. The States General gave way to the Constituent Assembly that drafted a declaration of the rights of Man and Citizens and transformed the King into a constitutional head. This was a moral victory of liberal values over the absolute monarchy and it created an atmosphere of horror and terror among the absolute monarchs of Europe. The King who tried to flee to England with his family was captured and imprisoned.

4. Declaration of the First French Republic:

In 1792, a new body called the National Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a Republic, subsequently, the King was guillotined in 1793. Historians call the incident of the fall of the monarchy in France the ‘Second French Revolution.’

5. War against the First European Coalition:

The execution of the King infuriated the Royalists and the French Republic got involved in a war with European countries like Austria, Prussia, Spain, and Holland who were supporters of monarchical rule.

6. Establishment of the Reign of Terror:

To protect France from internal and external crises, a “Reign of Terror” (September 1793-July 1794) was unleashed by the Jacobins under their Leader Robespierre to subvert all criticisms. Hundreds and thousands of people were executed during this period which ultimately ended with the guillotining of Robespierre in July 1794. The incident came to be known in history as the Thermidorian Reaction.

7. End of Directory rule:

In November 1795, a new Government called ‘Directory’ came to power but soon again internal rebellion started in France, and Napolean Bonaparte, an Army General, who was given the task of fighting the situation, overthrew the rule of the Directory and assumed supreme power, thus marking the end of the French Revolution.

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Important words with their meanings

1. Revolution
An action was taken by a large group of people to try to change the government of a country, especially by violent action.

2. Equality
The situation in which everyone has the same rights and advantages in the social or political order.

3. Liberty
The freedom to go where you want, do what you want, and express freely.

4. Fraternity
The feeling of support among the people in the same group.

5. Monarchy
The system of government or rule by a king or queen.

6. Despotic
Autocratic

7. Philosophers
A person who has developed a set of ideas and beliefs about the meaning of life.

8. Extravagance
Lack of restraint in spending money or using resources.

9. Feudalism
A social system existed in the Middle Ages in Europe, in which people worked and fought for nobles who owned land giving them protection and land in return.

10. Oppression
A situation in which people are governed unfairly and cruelly and prevented from having opportunities and freedom.

11. Royalists
A person who supports the principle of monarchy or a particular monarchy.

12. Hostage
A person who is caught and kept prisoner

13. Constitutional Monarchy
It is a form of monarchy in which the sovereign exercises authority by a written or unwritten constitution.

14. Absolute Monarchy
It is a form of monarchy in which the monarch holds supreme authority and where that authority is not restricted by any written laws, legislature, or customs.

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Names Of Some Important Books On The French Revolution

Editor                                                              Books
1. Edmund Burke’s                              Reflections on the Revolution in France
2. Georges Lefebvre                           The French Revolution from 1793 to 1799
3. David Thomson                              Europe Since Napoleon
4. H.A.L. Fisher                                   A History of Europe
5. Albert Goodwin                             The French Revolution
6. George Rude                                 Revolutionary Europe
7. Eric Hobsbawm’s The Age of Revolution
8. Alfred Cobban’s Social Interpretation of the French Revolution

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Tenure of Some Of The Bourbon Kings

1. Louis XIII                     1610 to 1643
2. Louis XIV                     1643 to 1715
3. Louis XV                      1715 to 1774
4. Louis XVI                      1774 to 1792

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Tenure of the Finance Ministers Of Louis XVI

1. Turgot                           1774 to 1776
2. Necker                          1777 to 1781 and 1788 to 1789
3. Calonne                        1783 to 1787
4. Brienne                         1787 to 1788

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Names Of Some Authors And Their Books

Authors                                                               Books
1. Montesquieu                                  (a) The Spirit of Laws (b) The Persian Letters
2. Voltaire                                           (a) Candide (b) Lettres Philosophiques (Letters on the English)
3. Jean Jacques Rousseau                  (a) Social Contract (b) Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (c) Emile
4. Denis Diderot                                 (a) Complied a 35-volume Encyclopedia
5. Abbe Sieyes                                   (a) What is the Third Estate?

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Chronological Table

Dates                                                     Events

1. 1643-1715                                        Reign of Louis XIV
2. 1688                                                 Glorious Revolution of England
3. 1774-1793                                        Reign of Louis XVI
4. In 1783                                                 America became independent
5. 1786                                                 Calonne proposed taxation on land
6. 1787                                                 Assembly of the Notables took place
7. 1788                                                Aristocratic Revolt took place
8. January 1789                                   Formation of the States -General
9. January 1789                                   Abbe Sieyes wrote the book- ‘What is the Third Estate?’
10. 5th May 1789                               The first meeting of the States-General
11. 20th June 1789                             Tennis Court Oath took place
12. On 14th July 1789                              Fall of Bastille took place
13. 4th August 1789                          Constituent Assembly declared the Abolition of Feudalism
14. 26th August 1789                        Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
15. 5th October 1789                        Women of France marched to Versailles, The King returned to Paris
16. 1790                                            The properties of the Church were confiscated by the Constituent Assembly
17. 12th July 1790                             Civil Constitution of the Clergy -the law was passed
18. 20th June 1791                            Louis XVI tried to escape to Austria
19. 21st June 1791                            Louis XVI’s attempt to flee from France foiled
20. 20th June 1792                           Sans-culottes marched to the Palace of Tuileries
21. 10th August 1792                      Abolition of Absolute Monarchy in France, Second French Revolution took place
22. 21st September 1792                 First Session of the National Convention, France became a republic
23. 21st January 1793                      Execution of Louis XVI took place
24. 2nd June 1793                           Girondins were banished completely from the National Assembly
25. 27th July 1793                           Robespierre joined the Committee of Public Safety
26. 5th April 1794                            Execution of Danton
27. 27th-28th July 1794                  Fall of Robespierre, his execution, and end of Reign of Terror
28. 2nd November 1795                 Rule of Directory began
29. 1797                                         The first coalition of the European powers was demolished by Napoleon
30. 1799                                          Rule of the Directory ended and Napoleon Bonaparte came to power through a coup

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Names Of Some Important People

1. Marie Antoinette                                      Queen of Louis XVI
2. Adam Smith                                             wrote ‘An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of The Wealth of Nations
3. Francois Quesnay’s                                  ‘Theory of Taxation’
4. Mirabeau                                                  Wrote ‘Friend of Mankind”
5. Olympe de Gouges                                  Wrote ‘The Rights of Women
6. Marie Olympe de Gouges                        Wrote ‘Declaration of the Rights of Women and Female Citizens’
7.  J.A.R. Marriott                                          Wrote ‘The Eastern Question
8. Jean-Paul Marat                                        A revolutionary French journalist
9. Leopold II                                                 The king of Austria who supported Louis XVI, brother of Marie Antoinette
10.  Danton                                                  A Jacobin leader
11. Barnard-Rene de Launay                       The person in charge of the fortress prison of Bastille at the time of its fall

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Fill In The Blanks

Question 1. The French Government was referred to as a ‘Political Prison’ by _____.

1. Adam Smith
2. Napoleon
   
3. Georges Lefebvre
4. Rousseau

Answer: 3. Georges Lefebvre

Question 2. The French King reopened the ‘States-General’ after a period of ______ Years.

1. 150
2. 160
3. 175
4. 180

Answer: 3. 175

Question 3. ‘What I desire is decree is’ said by _______.

1. Louis XVI
2. Louis XVII
3. Louis XV
4. Louis XIV

Answer: 1. Louis XVI

Question 4. The French economy is described as the ” Museum of Errors” by _____

1. Rousseau
2. Robespierre
3. Adam Smith
4. Labruge

Answer: 3. Adam Smith

Question 5. Taille was a _______ tax.

1. Land
2. Religious
3. Salt
4. Wealth

Answer: 4. Wealth

Question 6. Gabelle was the tax imposed on _____.

1. Religious
2. Salt
3. Land
4. Production

Answer: 2. Salt

Question 7. The _______ estate comprised nearly 97 percent of the French population.

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
4. Fourth

Answer: 3. Third

Question 8. Montesquieu was a famous _______ philosopher.

1. Russian
2. French
3. German
4. British

Answer: 2. French

Question 9. The Second Estate in France consisted of the ________.

1. Aristocracy
2. Bourgeoisie
3. Clergy
4. Sans-culottes

Answer: 1. Aristocracy

Question 10. The first phase of the French Revolution was started by the _______.

1. Sans-culottes
2. Bourgeoisie
3. Clergy
4. Aristocracy

Answer: 4. Aristocracy

Question 11. The ‘Tennis Court Oath’ was taken in _____.

1. 1789 A.D
2. 1791 A.D
3. 1790 A.D
4. 1792 A.D

Answer: 1. 1789 A.D

Question 12. There were _______ Directors in the Directory.

1. Six
2. Four
3. Five
4. Eight

Answer: 3. Five

Question 13. The most famous Director of France was ______.

1. Quesnay
2. Carnot
3. Turgot
4. Necker

Answer: 2. Carnot

Question 14. The reign of Robespierre was known as the period of ______ terror.

1. Red
2. Blue
3. White
4. Orange

Answer: 1. Red

Question 15. Napoleon led a military coup in ______ to seize the administrative power of France.

1. 1789 A.D
2. 1791 A.D
3. 1796 A.
4. 1799 A.D

Answer: 4. 1799 A.D

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Identify Which Of The Following Is “True” Or “False”

Question 1. During the reign of Louis XV around 150000 royal writs known as lettre de cachet were issued.
Answer: True

Question 2. Georges Lefebvre was a famous historian of the French Revolution.
Answer: True

Question 3. Voltaire was an eminent Russian philosopher.
Answer: False

Question 4. Intendants were the pillars of the French administration during the pre-revolutionary period.
Answer: True

Question 5. The weakness of the French monarchs made the ‘Intendents’ corrupt.
Answer: True

Question 6. The French term ”Ancien Regime means dark age’.
Answer: False

Question 7. The Second Estate of French Society comprised the common people.
Answer: False

Question 8. The ‘Enclosure System’ strengthened the small farmers.
Answer: False

Question 9. The Priests and Vicars belonged to the lower clergy.
Answer: True

Question 10. The Third Estate formed almost 97% of the French population.
Answer: True

Question 11. According to the Divine Right Theory, the king was the representative of God on earth.
Answer: True

Question 12. The Bourbon Monarchs were against the Divine Right Theory of kingship.
Answer: False

Question 13. Montesquieu was a famous French philosopher.
Answer: True

Question 14. ‘Discourse on the Origin of Inequality’ was the creation of Rousseau.
Answer: True

Question 15. The Physiocratic school of thought was formed under the leadership of Quesnay and Turgot.
Answer: True

Question 16. Rousseau wrote a book on fiscal policy known as ‘Theory of Taxation’.
Answer: False

Question 17. Turgot became the finance minister in 1776 A.D.
Answer: False

Question 18. The French finance minister, Necker wanted to abolish the Corvee system.
Answer: False

Question 19. Bastille was an old prison used as a fortress.
Answer: False

Question 20. Paris was regarded as the place for the ‘Mother of all revolutions’.
Answer: True

Question 21. 508 members of the First Estate represented at the Estates General.
Answer: False

Question 22. The Jacobins wanted the execution of the king.
Answer: True

Question 23. The Tennis Court Oath provided social recognition to the Bourgeoisie class.
Answer: True

Question 24. The tax imposed on income from trade and industry was known as Patente.
Answer: True

Question 25. The French Revolution continued till 1818 A.D.
Answer: False

Question 26. The rule of the Consulate with Napoleon at the head began in 1789 A.D.
Answer: False

Question 27. The Jacobin rule in France continued till 1794 A.D.
Answer: True

Question 28. The king of Austria, Leopold II sympathized with Louis XVI.
Answer: True

Question 29. Historian Guedalla considered the war in France as the fight between the idealists and the monarchists.
Answer: True

Question 30. Queen Marie Antoinette was guillotined in October 1795 A.D.
Answer: False

Question 31. The Bill of Rights of England was followed while framing the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen in France.
Answer: True

Question 32. France took part in the American War of Independence.
Answer: True

Question 33. The concept of Dictatorship was the outcome of the French Revolution.
Answer: False

Question 34. Robespierre initiated the period of White Terror in France.
Answer: False

Question 35. Tipu Sultan was a member of the Jacobin Club.
Answer: True

Question 36. Equality, Fraternity, and Freedom were the main ideals of the French Revolution.
Answer: True

Question 37. De Corday d’Armont provided leadership to the French women at the time of the Revolution.
Answer: True

Question 38. The United States of America’s Declaration of Independence was framed in 1689 A.D.
Answer: False

Question 39. Cullote means knee-length trousers.
Answer: True

Question 40. Democracy is a form of government based on the sovereignty of the people.
Answer: True

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Match column A with column B

Question 1.

Answer: (1) C, (2) D, (3) A, (4) B

Question 2.

Answer: (1) B, (2) C, (3) D, (4) A

Question 3.

Answer: (1) D, (2) A, (3) B, (4) C

Question 4.

Answer: (1) C, (2) D, (3) A, (4) B

Question 5.

Answer: (1) B, (2) C, (3) D, (4) A

Question 6.

Answer: (1) B, (2) C, (3) D, (4) A

Question 7.

Answer: (1) B, (2) A, (3) D, (4) C

Question 8.

Answer: (1) C, (2) D, (3) B, (4) A

Question 9.

Answer: (1) D, (2) C, (3) A, (4) B

Question 10.

Answer: (1) C, (2) D, (3) A, (4) B

Question 11.

Answer: (1) C, (2) A, (3) D, (4) B

Question 12.

Answer: (1) D, (2) C, (3) A, (4) B

Question 13.

Answer: (1) B, (2) D, (3) A, (4) C

Question 14.

Answer: (1) D, (2) C, (3) B, (4) A

Question 15.

Answer: (1) C, (2) A, (3) D, (4) B

Question 16.

Answer: (1) C, (2) D, (3) B, (4) A

WBBSE Chapter 1 Some Aspects Of The French Revolution Select The Correct Interpretation Of The Following Statements

Question 1. History considers the French rulers directly responsible for the French Revolution.

1. The arrogance of the Bourbon dynasty.
2. The French Monarchs reverted to the despiteful policy of Absolute Monarchy.
3. The fiscal policies adopted by the French Monarchs.

Answer: 2. The French Monarchs reverted to the despiteful policy of Absolute Monarchy.

Question 2. 18th-century France was a museum of economic errors

1. The incoherent economic policies of the French Finance Ministers.
2. The Bourbon kings failed to estimate the dissatisfaction of the masses.
3. The erratic taxation system and economic measures of the French government.

Answer: 3. The French government’s erratic taxation system and economic measures.

Question 3. The Finance Minister of Louis XVI, Calonne drew up a comprehensive economic reform plan.

1. It was drawn to appease the French Parlement.
2. The French Government faced with economic bankruptcy.
3. The Aristocrats favored this economic reform.

Answer: 2. The French Government faced with economic bankruptcy.

Question 4. The French Revolution took place in 1789.

1. It was only due to the despotic rule of the Bourbon Monarchs.
2. Socioeconomic, political, and intellectual factors contributed to the outbreak.
3. The inhuman attitude of the French Queen Marie Antoinette.

Answer: 2. The socio-economic-political and intellectual factors contributed to its outbreak.

Question 5. The Bourbon Monarchs believed in Explanation

1. They believed in the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.
2. They supported the idea of Democratic rule.
3. They championed the concept of Equality.

Answer: 1. They believed in the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.

Question 6. The Aristocrats revolted in France. 

1. They revolted taking advantage of the weaknesses of Louis XVI.
2. They were opposed to the growing power of the clergy.
3. Their advantage of not paying the taxes was proposed to be taken away.

Answer: 3. Their advantage of not paying the taxes was proposed to be taken away.

Question 7. Political Clubs began to form after the States General was in session.

1. The political philosophers spoke regularly in the Clubs
2. As political parties were absent at that time, the Clubs played an important role in shaping the minds of the French people.
3. The Clubs attempted to save the Revolution through terror and gained much popularity.

Answer: 3. As political parties were absent at that time, the Clubs played an important role in shaping the minds of the French people.

Question 8. Girondins were opposed to the concept of France being ruled by mob law.

1. They hated Robespierre and the Jacobin ideas.
2. They generally belonged to high-born families.
3. They only wanted to act as pressure groups to influence the people.

Answer: 2. They generally belonged to high-born families.

Question 9. The Fort of Bastille was hated by the people of France.

1. It was the symbol of the autocratic power of the French monarchs.
2. It was the fortress prison in the city of Paris.
3. It generated fear amongst the common people.

Answer: (1) It symbolized the autocratic power of the French monarchs.

Question 10. The conflict between the King and the Third Estate was evident after the opening of the States General.

1. The Third Estate favored the financial reforms of Calonne.
2. The elected members of the Third Estate opposed voting by Estates.
3. The members of the Third Estate wanted to become the nation’s lawmakers.

Answer: 2. The elected members of the Third Estate opposed voting by Estates.

Question 11. By March 1793 most of the countries of Europe were at war with France.

1. The Edict of Fraternity became a challenge to every European power.
2. The European countries generally adhered to Absolute Monarchy and opposed the French Revolution.
3. The French Revolution started spreading the idea of Democracy.

Answer: 1. The Edict of Fraternity challenged every European power.

Question 12. The French treasury became empty during the rule of Louis XVI.

1. The extravagance of Louis XVI and his queen.
2. The war expenditure and the royal excesses depleted the French treasury.
3. The exemption of taxes of the First and the Second Estates.

Answer: 2. The war expenditure and the royal excesses depleted the French treasury.

Question 13. Louis XVI summoned the States General on 5th May 1789.

1. To mark the beginning of the French Revolution.
2. Under extreme economic crisis and revolutionary circumstances, he was forced to summon the States General.
3. The king yielded to the demands of the priests.

Answer: 2. Under extreme economic crisis and revolutionary circumstances he was forced to summon the States General.

Question 14. Schooling became compulsory for girls in France

1. French women played a significant role during the Revolution.
2. The church wanted to educate French women.
3. Laws were framed by the revolutionary government to improve the condition of French women.

Answer: 3. Laws were framed by the revolutionary government to improve the condition of French women.

Question 15. The Declaration of the Rights Of Man and Citizen was extremely significant.

1. It emphasized the three basic principles of the French Revolution – Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
2. It abolished feudalism in France.
3. It declared the democratic rights of the women of France.

Answer: 1. It emphasized the three basic principles of the French Revolution – Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.