❴HISTORY❵
Ch-1 French Revolution
Q. Define the following terms
1. Nation: People who share a language, culture, customs and
history; a group united into a large political, economic and
social unit which recognises no law or authority above its own,
i.e., it is sovereign in nature.
2. Nationalism: A feeling of intense loyalty and devotion to
one's country.
3. Revolution: It refers to momentous change in any situation.
A revolution can result in the sudden overthrow of an
established government or system by force and bloodshed,
e.g. The French Revolution. It can also be a great change that
comes slowly and peacefully, e.g. Industrial Revolution.
4. First Estate: The First Estate consisted of the Clergy which
held vast land, wealth and was exempt from taxation.
5. Second Estate: It consisted of the aristocracy and controlled
all the top positions in the government, parliament and in the
army and navy. They were also exempt from taxation and led
an extravagant life.
6. Third Estate: This comprised everyone who was neither
nobility nor clergy and constituted 98% of the population. Town
dwellers, the wealthy upper middle class (merchants, bankers,
doctors, lawyers), lower middle class, craftsmen, shopkeepers
and peasants. This class lacked political power, social position
and was heavily taxed though there were many differences in
their wealth and style of living.
7. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen: In 1789, the
French National Assembly adopted a set of basic principles
called the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, this
document stated that "men are born and remain free and
equal in rights" and that the "source of power resides in the
, people". It guaranteed all Frenchmen the basic rights of
liberty, security, equal justice, fair taxes, speech, religion and
thought.
8. Physiocrats: The French economists were called
physiocrats. They believed that taxes should be imposed only
with the consent of those on whom they are levied.
9. Livre: Unit of currency used in France till 1794.
10. Clergy: Group of persons invested with special functions
in the Church.
11. Tithe: A tax levied by the Church equal to one-tenth of the
agricultural produce.
12. Taille: Tax paid directly to the state.
13. Chateau: Castle belonging to a king or nobleman.
14. Manor: An estate consisting of the Lord's lands and his
mansion.
15. Sceptre: Symbol of royal power.
16. Negroes: A term used for the indigenous people of Africa,
south of the Sahara. A derogatory term not now commonly
used.
Topic 1
Q1. Which incident sparked the French Revolution?
Ans. The attack by third estate on the Bastille Prison on 14th
July,1789 and setting free the prisoners sparked the French
Revolution.
Q2. Which ruler came to power in France in 1774?
Ans. Louis XVI of the Bourbon family ascended the throne of
France in 1774.
Q3. Why did the French government increase the taxes?
Ans. Taxes were increased in France to meet the regular expenses
like
, 1. Cost of maintaining an army
2. The court expenses
3. Running the government offices or universities.
Q4. Who owned the majority of land in 18th century France?
Ans. The nobles, the Church and the richer members of the third
estate owned 60% of land in France.
Q5. What was the most important privilege enjoyed by the first two
estates?
Ans. The most important privilege enjoyed by the first two estates
was the exemption from payment of taxes to the states.
Q6. Which estate enjoyed the feudal privileges? What were the
feudal privileges?
Ans. The feudal privileges were enjoyed by the second estate i.e.,
nobles.
Nobles who collected the feudal dues from the peasants came
under the feudal privileges.
Q7. Name the Philosophers who put forward the ideas of freedom,
equal laws and opportunities for all in French society.
Ans.
● John Locke- Two Treatises of Government (refute the doctrine
of divine and absolute right of monarch)
● Jean Jacques Rousseau- Social contract between people and
their representative
● Montesquieu- The Spirit of Laws (Division of power between
legislative, executive and judiciary)
Q8. Describe the events that took place on 14th July 1789 in
France.
Ans. The following events took place on 14th July 1789.
Ch-1 French Revolution
Q. Define the following terms
1. Nation: People who share a language, culture, customs and
history; a group united into a large political, economic and
social unit which recognises no law or authority above its own,
i.e., it is sovereign in nature.
2. Nationalism: A feeling of intense loyalty and devotion to
one's country.
3. Revolution: It refers to momentous change in any situation.
A revolution can result in the sudden overthrow of an
established government or system by force and bloodshed,
e.g. The French Revolution. It can also be a great change that
comes slowly and peacefully, e.g. Industrial Revolution.
4. First Estate: The First Estate consisted of the Clergy which
held vast land, wealth and was exempt from taxation.
5. Second Estate: It consisted of the aristocracy and controlled
all the top positions in the government, parliament and in the
army and navy. They were also exempt from taxation and led
an extravagant life.
6. Third Estate: This comprised everyone who was neither
nobility nor clergy and constituted 98% of the population. Town
dwellers, the wealthy upper middle class (merchants, bankers,
doctors, lawyers), lower middle class, craftsmen, shopkeepers
and peasants. This class lacked political power, social position
and was heavily taxed though there were many differences in
their wealth and style of living.
7. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen: In 1789, the
French National Assembly adopted a set of basic principles
called the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, this
document stated that "men are born and remain free and
equal in rights" and that the "source of power resides in the
, people". It guaranteed all Frenchmen the basic rights of
liberty, security, equal justice, fair taxes, speech, religion and
thought.
8. Physiocrats: The French economists were called
physiocrats. They believed that taxes should be imposed only
with the consent of those on whom they are levied.
9. Livre: Unit of currency used in France till 1794.
10. Clergy: Group of persons invested with special functions
in the Church.
11. Tithe: A tax levied by the Church equal to one-tenth of the
agricultural produce.
12. Taille: Tax paid directly to the state.
13. Chateau: Castle belonging to a king or nobleman.
14. Manor: An estate consisting of the Lord's lands and his
mansion.
15. Sceptre: Symbol of royal power.
16. Negroes: A term used for the indigenous people of Africa,
south of the Sahara. A derogatory term not now commonly
used.
Topic 1
Q1. Which incident sparked the French Revolution?
Ans. The attack by third estate on the Bastille Prison on 14th
July,1789 and setting free the prisoners sparked the French
Revolution.
Q2. Which ruler came to power in France in 1774?
Ans. Louis XVI of the Bourbon family ascended the throne of
France in 1774.
Q3. Why did the French government increase the taxes?
Ans. Taxes were increased in France to meet the regular expenses
like
, 1. Cost of maintaining an army
2. The court expenses
3. Running the government offices or universities.
Q4. Who owned the majority of land in 18th century France?
Ans. The nobles, the Church and the richer members of the third
estate owned 60% of land in France.
Q5. What was the most important privilege enjoyed by the first two
estates?
Ans. The most important privilege enjoyed by the first two estates
was the exemption from payment of taxes to the states.
Q6. Which estate enjoyed the feudal privileges? What were the
feudal privileges?
Ans. The feudal privileges were enjoyed by the second estate i.e.,
nobles.
Nobles who collected the feudal dues from the peasants came
under the feudal privileges.
Q7. Name the Philosophers who put forward the ideas of freedom,
equal laws and opportunities for all in French society.
Ans.
● John Locke- Two Treatises of Government (refute the doctrine
of divine and absolute right of monarch)
● Jean Jacques Rousseau- Social contract between people and
their representative
● Montesquieu- The Spirit of Laws (Division of power between
legislative, executive and judiciary)
Q8. Describe the events that took place on 14th July 1789 in
France.
Ans. The following events took place on 14th July 1789.
