French Revolution

French Revolution from seemalal

FRENCH REVOLUTION Causes:
1. Division of the French society: it was divided into three Estates : the First-clergy :the Second-nobility : the Third- bussinessmen,merchants, poor peasants, labour, servants. First & second Estaes had 10% of the population and enjoyed all privileges. Rest was the third Estate -90% and were the tax payers.they also rendered their services to the other two classes.This kind of discrimination led to the revolt.
2. Despotic rule of Louis XVI : When he became the ruler of France in 1774, one found empty treasury and also drained the financial resources of France in wars. Aslo the cost of his and his wife’s regular extravaganza, lavish lifestyle resulted in the increase of taxes to run the country.
3. Rising prices / subsistence crisis : The population of France had increased, this resulted in more demand of food grains.So, the prices of bread rose rapidly, which the poor could not afford to buy and the gap between the rich and poor widened.
4. Rising middle class: A group within the third Estate who had become prosperous and had an sccess to the education and new ideas was called Middle class.All of them belived that no group should be privilged by birth rather it should be merit.
5. The inspiration of the philosophers:
Philosophers as Locke , Rousseau , Montesquieu propagated the ideas of a society where people would enjoy freedom, equal opportunities and equality .Their ideas inspired common people of France.

Q.. Which incident led to the out break of the revolution in France? OR What was the immediate cause of the French revolution?
ANS: Meeting of the Estates General: On 5th may 1789, Louis XVI called for a meeting to propose new taxes. Representatives of all the Estates were to meet at Versailles. All reached , there were 300 members from the first two Estates and 600 members from the Third Estate. They had to stand at the back peasants, artisans & women were denied the entry.
2. Demand of Universal Adult Franchise : members of the third Estate demanded the power for each member to vote . When the King rejected the demand, members of the Third Estate walked out of the Assembly to protest.
3.Formation of the National Assembly: since the number of the third estate was more, they considered themselves as the spokesmen of the nation and secretly met at the Tennis court of Versailles and declared themselves as the ‘National Assembly’. They wanted to end the feudal privileges of nobles and clergy.
4.Peasants Revolt : Rumours had spread that the king had commanded troops to move into the city and that they would destroy their rice crops. Peasants in several districts seized hoes and attacked residencies of their manors . They looted the hoarded grains and burnt the records of manorial dues.
5. Fall of the Bastille prision : During this political turmoil, French were already undergoing severe winters leading to bad harvest, which resulted in the rise in prices of bread. Angry women attacked the shops. It was the time when the king had ordered his troops to move into Paris. The angry mob attacked the Bastille prison on 14th July and this was the beginning of the revolution.

Q. What were the results of the French revolution of1789
1.Louis XVI finally gave recognition to the National Assembly.
2.King’s power were to be now checked by the constitution & constitutional monarchy was setup.
3.The Assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes.
4.Members of the clergy were forced to give up their privileges.
5.Tithes (taxes) were abolished and the lands owned by the church were confiscated.

Q. What do you understand by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens ?
1. The French constitution begins with the Declaration of Rights O man and the Citizens.
2. Rights such as the right to life , freedom of speech , freedom of opinion , equality before the law were established as Natural and inalienable rights, they belong to every individual by birth and could not be taken away. 3. It was the duty of every state to protect each citizen’s natural rights.
Q. Mention the political symbols mentioned in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens.
1.The broken Chain : they were used to fetter slaves. It stands for the act of becoming free.
2.Bundle of rods or fasces : Strength lies in the unity.
3. The eye within the triangle of a radiating light : it stands for knowledge and the rays of sun will drive away the clouds of ignorance.
5.Snake biting its tail to form a ring : Symbol of eternity.
6. Red Phrygian cap: a cap worn by a slave upon becoming free.
7. Blue-white-red : The national colours of France.
8. The winged woman: Personification of the law.
9. The law tablet : The law is the same for all and all are equal before it.
Q. Name the most influential club during the French revolution.
OR Write the main feature of the Jacobin club. Who was its leader ?
The Jacobin club was the most prominent club during the French revolution.
1. It got its name from the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris.
2. Its members belonged to mainly the less prosperous sections of society – small shopkeepers, artisans, shoemakers, watchmakers, printers, servants and daily –wage earners.
3. Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.
4. Jacobins decided to start wearing long striped trousers; this was to set themselves apart from the fashionable sections of the society, especially nobles, who wore knee breeches.
5. Jacobins came to be known as the sans-culottes, meaning those without knee breeches and also wore red caps which symbolized liberty.
Q Write about the Insurrection planned by the Jacobinans.
OR How did the people of France get right to vote?
1.In the summer of 1792 the Jacobins planned an insurrection of a large number of Parsians who were angered by the shortage of food supplies and its high prices.
2.On the morning of August 10 they stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, massacred the king’s guards and the king a hostage for several hours.
3.Later the Assembly voted to imprison the royal family.
From then all men of 21 years and above, regardless of the wealth got the right to vote.