Important Question Chapter 1 History Class 9 CBSE Board

The French Revolution

Short Questions Answer 

1. When did the French Revolution begin?

Answer:The French Revolution began on 14th July 1789 with the storming of the Bastille Prison in Paris.

2. Who was the ruler of France at the time of the Revolution?

Answer:King Louis XVI of the Bourbon dynasty was the ruler of France during the Revolution.

3. Who was the queen of France during the French Revolution?

Answer:The queen was Marie Antoinette, the Austrian princess.

4. What were the three estates in French society?

Answer:
The three estates were:

1. First Estate – Clergy
2. Second Estate – Nobility
3. Third Estate – Common people (peasants, workers, and middle class).

5. What was the Estates General?

Answer:The Estates General was a political body that represented the three estates of France. It was called by the king to discuss and approve new taxes.

6. What was the main demand of the Third Estate in 1789?

Answer:The Third Estate demanded that voting should be conducted by head, not by estate, so that their votes would count equally.

7. Who wrote the book The Social Contract?

Answer:The Social Contract was written by Jean Jacques Rousseau, a famous French philosopher.

8. What was the National Assembly?

Answer:The National Assembly was formed by representatives of the Third Estate on 20th June 1789 to draft a new constitution for France.

9. What was the slogan of the French Revolution?

Answer:The slogan was “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.”

10. When was slavery finally abolished in French colonies?

Answer:Slavery was abolished in 1794 by the Convention, but was later reintroduced by Napoleon and finally abolished in 1848.

Long Questions Answer 

1. What were the main causes of the French Revolution?

Answer:The French Revolution had several causes:

• Social Inequality: The French society was divided into three estates. The First and Second Estates enjoyed privileges, while the Third Estate paid all the taxes.
• Economic Crisis: France was facing financial problems due to wars and extravagant spending by the royal family.
• Tax Burden: The Third Estate had to pay heavy taxes while nobles and clergy were exempt.
• Enlightenment Ideas: Philosophers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu inspired people to demand equality and freedom.
• Weak Monarchy: King Louis XVI was indecisive and unable to solve financial problems.

2. Describe the social conditions in France before the Revolution.

Answer:Before 1789, French society was divided into three estates:

• First Estate (Clergy): Owned 10% of the land and paid no taxes.
• Second Estate (Nobility): Controlled most of the land, held high offices, and enjoyed privileges.
• Third Estate: Made up 90% of the population including peasants, artisans, and bourgeoisie. They paid all taxes and had no political rights.
  This inequality created great discontent among the Third Estate.

3. How did the philosophers influence the French Revolution?

Answer:Philosophers inspired the people of France to question inequality and absolute monarchy.

• Montesquieu proposed separation of powers among legislature, executive, and judiciary.
• Voltaire criticized the Church and believed in freedom of speech.
• Rousseau wrote The Social Contract, promoting the idea that government should be based on the will of the people.
  Their ideas spread through books, newspapers, and discussions, encouraging revolution.

4. What was the Tennis Court Oath?

Answer:On 20th June 1789, members of the Third Estate assembled in a tennis court after being locked out of the Estates General.
They took an oath not to separate until they had written a new constitution for France.
This event showed the unity and determination of the common people against royal power.

5. What happened on 14th July 1789 and why is it important?

Answer:On 14th July 1789, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny.
They freed the prisoners and took arms stored there.
The fall of Bastille marked the beginning of the French Revolution and symbolized the end of absolute monarchy.

6. What changes were brought by the National Assembly in France?

Answer:The National Assembly made several major reforms:

• Abolished feudal privileges of the clergy and nobility.
• Introduced the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
• Guaranteed freedom of speech, equality before law, and the right to property.
• Formed a constitutional monarchy where power was shared between the king and the Assembly.

7. What was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?

Answer:The Declaration, adopted in August 1789, stated that:

• All men are born free and equal in rights.
• Every citizen has the right to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
• Law is the expression of the general will.
  It became the foundation of democratic principles in France.

8. How did the Revolution affect the Church in France?

Answer:The Revolution ended the power and privileges of the Church.

• Church lands were taken over and sold to pay national debt.
• The clergy were forced to take an oath of loyalty to the government.
• The Church lost its independence and became subordinate to the state.

9. What role did women play in the French Revolution?

Answer:Women actively participated in the Revolution.

• They formed clubs and demanded equality in marriage, education, and work.
• On 5th October 1789, thousands of women marched to Versailles, demanding bread and forcing the royal family to move to Paris.
• Though the constitution of 1791 did not give them equal rights, their struggle paved the way for future movements.

10. What were the results and impact of the French Revolution?

Answer:The Revolution brought major political and social changes:

• Ended absolute monarchy and feudal privileges.
• Established equality before law and inspired the idea of liberty and fraternity.
• Inspired revolutions in other parts of Europe and the world.
• However, France faced years of war and instability, leading to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.