The French Revolution - Class 9 History - Extra Questions

Yes, the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions:

• Many ideas in the "Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen" were replete with dubious meanings. For example, "the law has the right to forbid only actions injurious to society" had nothing to say about criminal offences against other individuals.
• The declaration stated that "law is the expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to participate in its formation…All citizens are equal before it", but when France became a constitutional monarchy, almost 3 million citizens including men who did not pay sufficient taxes, women and men under the age of 25 were not allowed to vote at all.

Hence, by these universal rights poor were suppressed. Constitution was only available for the rich. Women were totally neglected in decision making.

We can trace the origin of the following democratic rights we enjoy today to the french revolution:

• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom
• Freedom of Speech and expression
• Right against exploitations
• Right to justice

The circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France were:

Social Inequality: French society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates namely The Clergy, The nobility and third estates which comprise peasants, officials and small business. It was only third estates that pay taxes. Clergy and nobility were exempt from taxes.

Subsistence Crisis: The population of France also increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. Food grains were now in great demand. Price of bread shot up. Wages did not keep pace with rising prices. This led to subsistence crisis.

Economic Problems: Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. France had a debt of more than 2 billion livres. To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase taxes.

Strong Middle Class: The middle class emerged educated and wealthy during the eighteenth century. They believed that no group in society should be given privileges by birth. Ideas of equality and freedom were put forward by philosophers. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee houses and spread among people.

Immediate Causes: On 5 may, 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes. Third estates protested against this proposal but as each estate have one vote, the king rejected this appeal. They walked out of the assembly.

The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution. These spread from France to the rest of Europe during the nineteenth century, where feudal systems were abolished. It inspired the Germans, Italians, and Austrians to overthrow their oppressive regimes. The French Revolution inspired the struggling nations of Asia and Africa who were groaning under the oppression of European colonialism. Tipu Sultan and Rajaram Mohan Roy are two examples of individuals who responded to ideas coming from the French revolution.

The king came under the supervision of the government and France became a constitutional monarchy.

Feudal system was abolished.

The nobles and the clergy were stripped - off of their privileges.

Taxes collected by the church were abolished and the lands owned by the church were confiscated.

Power to make laws was vested in the hands of the national assembly.

Powers were distributed among the different institutions- - the judiciary, the executive, and the legislature.

It limited the powers of the king.

Napoleon introduced the following changes to make the administrative system more efficient in the areas ruled by him:

•  He established civil code in 1804 also known as the Napoleonic Code. It did away with all privileges based on birth. It established equality before the law and secured the right to property.
• He simplified administrative divisions, the abolished feudal system, and freed peasants from serfdom and manorial dues.
• In towns too, guild systems were removed. 
• Transport and communication systems were improved.
• Peasants, artisans, businessmen and workers enjoyed the newfound freedom.

After France became a republic in 1792, the then Jacobin leader, Robespierre, followed a policy of severe control and punishment. He was a sort of autocrat himself. This led to a reign of terror for the following many years. After Robespierre's rule came to an end a directory was formed to avoid concentration of power in one individual. Members of the directory often fought among themselves leading to total chaos and political instability. This created a political vacuum in France. This was a conducive situation and Napoleon Bonaparte took the reign of power as a military dictator.

Napoleon was very ambitious and he went on to conquer territories outside France and imposed French systems in the conquered lands of Italy, Spain and Germany. The ideas of liberty and equality were spreading all over Europe which Napoleon had brought with him. People were rising against any autocratic system which opposed the ideas of liberalism or equality. The countries of Europe inspired by the idea of nationalism rose against him. He was sent to exile but returned the following year in 1815 for a period called the 'Hundred Days.'

Women of third estate of France played a crucial role in the revolution. From the beginning of the revolution itself they were actively involved in it.

 A new constitution was introduced which denied the vote to non-propertied sections of society. It provided for two elected legislative councils. These then appointed a Directory, an executive made up of five members. This was meant as a safeguard against the concentration of power in a one-man executive as under the Jacobins. However, the Directors often clashed with the legislative councils, who then sought to dismiss them. The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of a military dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte. 

The French Revolution was a historic event and inspired people all over the world. It spread the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity and generated the spirit of nationalism. The feeling of brotherhood and oneness inspired people.

Louise-Sebastien Mercier, a novelist in eighteenth century France, declared: 'The printing press is the most powerful engine of progress and public opinion is the force that will sweep despotism away.'

Anybody who shifts from one region or country to another region within a country or to another country, usually for work or other economic opportunities is known as 'migrant.'

The role of women in France before the revolution was as follows -
(i) All women were treated as passive citizens. They did not have voting powers.
(ii) They worked as seamstress or laundresses, sold flowers, fruits and vegetables or worked as domestic servants.
(iii) Their wages were lower than those of men. They looked after their children, did the cooking, fetched water and queued for bread.
(iv) Most women did not have access to education or job training. Only daughters of wealthy parents could study at a convent, after which they were married off.

The eighteenth century witnessed the emergence of social groups, termed the middle class, who earned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade and from the manufacture of goods such as woollen and silk textiles that were either exported or bought by the richer members of society. In addition to merchants and manufacturers, the third estate included professions such as lawyers or administrative officials. All of these were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth. Rather, a person’s social position must depend on his merit. 

The society of estates was part of the feudal system that dated back to the middle ages. 

Peasants made up about 90 percent of the population. However, only a small number of them owned the land they cultivated. About 60 percent of the land was owned by nobles, the Church and other richer members of the third estate. The members of the first two estates, that is, the clergy and the nobility, enjoyed certain privileges by birth. The most important of these was the exemption from paying taxes to the state. The nobles further enjoyed feudal privileges. These included feudal dues, which they extracted from the peasants. Peasants were obliged to render services to the lord – to work in his house and fields – to serve in the army or to participate in building roads. 

The Church too extracted its share of taxes called tithes from the peasants, and finally, all members of the third estate had to pay taxes to the state. These included a direct tax, called taille, and a number of indirect taxes which were levied on articles of everyday consumption like salt or tobacco. The burden of financing activities of the state through taxes was borne by the third estate alone. In addition to merchants and manufacturers, the third estate included professions such as lawyers or administrative officials. All of these were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth. Rather, a person’s social position must depend on his merit. 

Steps taken by Robespierre's government are as follow-

• Laws were issued placing a maximum ceiling on wages and prices.
•  Meat and bread were rationed.
•  Peasants were forced to transport their grain to the cities and sell it at prices fixed by the government.
•  The use of more expensive white flour was forbidden; all citizens were required to eat the pain d’égalité (equality bread), a loaf made of wholewheat. 
•  Equality was practised by forms of speech and address.
•  The use of more expensive white flour was forbidden; all citizens were required to eat the pain d’égalité (equality bread), a loaf made of wholewheat. 
• Churches were shutdown and buildings converted to barracks or offices.

 

The causes for the fall of the Jacobin Government in France were as follows:
(i) Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment. All those whom he saw as enemies were arrested, imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary tribunal. Those found guilty were guillotined.

The National Assembly, under the leadership of Abbe Sieyes and Mirabeau, had resolved to draft a Constitution for France which would effectively limit the powers of the monarch. These powers, instead of being concentrated in the hands of one person, were now separated and assigned to different political institutions - the legislature, executive and judiciary. The monarchy was retained, but the king did not enjoy absolute power and authority, as he did in the days of pre-revolution France. Therefore, through the new Constitution, the leadership of the Third Estate transformed France into a constitutional monarchy.

a) The war with Britain for an independent America: This war led to mounting debt on the French monarchy. This necessitated imposition of new taxes on the public.

(b) Privilege based on birth: People got privileges and position based on their lineage and not on their merit. This led to resentment among common people.

(c) Concentration of power among the privileged: People belonging to the first and second estate had all the power and money. Masses were at the mercy of this privileged class.

(d) Subsistence Crisis:- Rising population and less grain production resulted in demand supply gap of bread, which was the staple diet. Wages did not keep pace with rising prices. It was becoming difficult for people.

(e) Growing Middle Class: Because of increased overseas trade a new class emerged. This class was wealthy not because of birth but because of its ability to utilise opportunities. People of the middle class started raising their voice for an end to privileges based on lineage.

(i) On the night of 4th August, 1789, the assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes. Members of the clergy were forced to give up their privileges.
(ii) Tithe, a tax levied by the Church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce, was abolished and lands owned by the Church were also confiscated. As a direct consequence of these measures taken by the government, the government acquired assets worth at least 2 billion livres.
(iii) France now became a Constitutional monarchy. Powers instead of being concentrated in the hands of one person were now separated and assigned to three different institutions, the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary. This made France a constitutional monarchy.

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power as a military dictator in culmination of the following circumstances:

The third estate also known as the third class of the French society were behind the French Revolution as there was a lot of social inequality in the French society.

In the eighteenth century, many persons who belonged to third estate and earned their wealth through overseas trade and manufacturing goods, were termed as middle class. It was a new social group, which also comprised of court officials, lawyers and administrative officials. People of Middle class were educated and believed that no privilege should be given by birth, rather position of a person in society should be merit based. Philosophers, such as John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau were envisaging a society based on freedom, equal laws and opportunity for all.

During the eighteenth century the French Society was divided into three groups. These groups were called estates. The three types of groups were - First estate, Second estate and Third estate.

First estate - Clergy belonged to 1st estate of then French Society. They were holders of land. They received a tax named' tithe'( A tax levied by the church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.) from the peasants. The clergy enjoyed several privileges and political and  economic concessions. For example, they were exempted from paying taxes. They intervened into politics of the state. They had become pleasure loving.

Second estate - Nobility belonged to 2nd estate of then French Society. They were in possession of large part of land. They too enjoyed political and economic privileges. They too were free from taxes. They were benefited by political, military and judicial posts on hereditary basis. They were governed by a set of laws separate from those meant for the members of the third estate. Luxury and pleasure were the main features of their life. 

Third estate: - The 3rd estate of then French society was further divided into three categories. Big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, etc. belonged to the first category of 3rd estate. This class was well-educated. Their financial condition was good. In spite of this and the quality of this class was deprived of higher posts in the administration. Thy raised their voice against the monarchy to get prestige and rights.  Peasants and artisans belonged to the second category. Their condition was miserable.They were cruelly crushed.  And lower middle class of peasants, landless labours  belonged to third category, and were considered as the lowest class in the society. Members of the third state had to pay all types of taxes including taille, crown tax to the king, waijam tax(income tax), salt tax, etc. 

The symbols related to French Revolution and their basic values were as follows:
(i) The Broken Chain: Chains were used to fetter slaves. A broken chain symbolises the freedom from slavery.
(ii) The Bundle of Rods or Fasces: One rod can be easily broken, but not an entire bundle. It symbolises that strength lies in unity.
(iii) The Eye within a Triangle Radiating Light: The all seeing eye stands for knowledge. The rays of the sun will drive away the clouds of ignorance. It depicts that knowledge removes ignorance.
(iv) Sceptre: It was a symbol of royal power. It depicted the power of autocracy.
(v) Snake Biting its Tail to form a Ring: This type of ring has neither beginning nor end. It is a symbol of eternity.
(vi) Red Phrygian Cap: It as worn by a slave upon becoming free. It symbolises the freedom from bondage or slavery.
(vii) Blue-White-Red: These were the national colours of France. The use of these colour depicts nationalism.
(viii) The Winged Woman: It is the personification of the law. It symbolises the power of law.
(ix) The Law Tablet: The law is the same for all and all are equal before it. It symbolises equality and justice.

Ways in which Louis XVI helped to contribute to the outbreak of the French Revolution are (i) Louis XVI, the ruler of France, was a pleasure-loving, extravagant ruler who believed in the divine rights of the king. (ii) He was ignorant and indifferent to the conditions of the poor. (iii) He was obsessed with his wife Marie Antoinette, who constantly interfered in the administration. (iv) Both the king and the queen used to spend huge wealth not only to lead a lavish lifestyle but also to please their so called admirers. This gradually brought France to the verge of bankruptcy. (v) The king helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from Britain. The huge expenditure of the war forced the state to increase taxes and the taxes were only paid by the third estate of the French society at that time. vi)On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of the Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes. Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to the principle that each estate had one vote. This time too Louis XVI was determined to continue the same practice. But members of the third estate demanded that voting now be conducted by the assembly as a  whole, where each member would have one vote. When the king rejected this proposal, members of the third estate became furious and walked out of the assembly. 

 The members of the first two estates, that is, the clergy and the nobility, enjoyed certain privileges by birth. The most important of these was exemption from paying taxes to the state. 

On 20th June 1789, the third estate assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of Versailles. The third estate declared themselves a National Assembly and swore not to disperse till they had drafted a Constitution. They wanted to introduce a Constitution for France which would limit the powers of the monarch. Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes led the movement. Mirabeau brought out a journal and delivered powerful speeches to inspire the crowd assembled at Versailles. Although he was born in a noble family but was convinced of the need to go away with a society of feudal privilege. In this way, Mirabeau contributed to the formation of the National Assembly.

The 18th century witnessed the emergence of social groups, termed the middle class, who earned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade and form the manufacture of goods such as woollen and silk textiles that were either exported or bought by the richer members of society. In addition to merchant and manufacturers, the third estate included professions such  as lawyers or administrative officials. All of these were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth. Rather, a person's social position must depend on his merit. These ideas envisaging a society based on freedom and equal laws.

The principles of liberty, equality and fraternity of revolutionary period influenced Indian nationalists.  Indian nationalists developed a democratic outlook and tried to imbibe these principles into the national movement.

In 1789, The important law that soon came into effect after storming of Bastille was the abolition of censorship. Censorship was a law which allowed people to introduce anything in press or plays only after the permission of ministers appointed by king.

The years of bloodshed in France, led to the emergence of a dictator, who made himself emperor-Napoleon Bonaparte. He rose in the ranks of the army to the position of First Consul, the highest official in the country. Through his military strategies he won many territories for France and he soon declared himself an emperor in December 1804. France became a powerful nation in Europe under Napoleon. It was more of a constitutional monarchy than an autocratic one. He was defeated at the famous Battle of Waterloo by the Dutch of Wellington and sent to exile. Napoleon restored order in France. He changed the tax system and instituted new laws called the Napoleonic Code. This code made same laws applicable all over France and put an end to the privileges of the nobles.