Class 9 History Chapter 1 Question Answers - India and the Contemporary World - 1

Q1: Under what circumstances did the representatives of the third estate form the National Assembly?
Ans: The representatives of the third estate formed the National Assembly under circumstances where their demands for equal voting rights were denied by King Louis XVI during the assembly of the Estates General. Despite being the majority of the population, the third estate's voices were suppressed. Frustrated by this, they convened in an indoor tennis court in Versailles on 20 June 1789 and declared themselves the National Assembly. They aimed to draft a constitution that would limit the powers of the monarch and represent the interests of the entire French nation.

Q2: What was the immediate cause that angered the French people so much that they stormed and destroyed the Bastille and started the Revolution?
Ans: The National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a constitution that would limit the powers of the monarch. Meanwhile, the common people were facing hardships, including a severe winter that reduced the harvest and caused the price of bread to rise. The king's order to move troops into Paris further agitated the people. On 14 July 1789, an angry crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille, a symbol of the despotic power of the king. This event marked the start of the French Revolution.

Q3: What were the consequences of the uprising led by the Jacobins in 1792?
Ans: The uprising led by the Jacobins in 1792 had significant consequences:

• The Assembly voted to imprison Louis XVI and his family members. Elections were held, granting all men of 21 years and above the right to vote.
• Monarchy was abolished, and France was declared a republic.
• Louis XVI was sentenced to death and executed publicly on 21 January 1793. Marie Antoinette also met the same fate shortly after.

Q4: Write three points about the Jacobin club in France. Who was its leader?
Ans:

• The Jacobin club, named after the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris, was the most successful political club during revolutionary France.
• Its members mainly belonged to less prosperous sections of society, including small shopkeepers, artisans, and daily-wage workers.
• Some Jacobin members wore distinctive long striped trousers to distinguish themselves from the aristocracy, who often wore knee breeches. The leader of the Jacobin club was Maximilian Robespierre.

Q5: What were reasons behind an empty treasury upon the accession of Louis XVI in 1774?
Ans: Upon his accession in 1774, the new king Louis XVI found an empty treasury. There were several reasons behind it:

• Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. Added to this was the cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace of Versailles.
• Under Louis XVI, France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from Britain. The war added more than a billion livres to debt that had already risen to more than 2 billion livres. Lenders who gave the state credit now began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans.
• French society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates, and only members of the third estate paid taxes.

Q6: How was the system of estates in French society organised?
Ans: French society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates:

• The first estate was constituted by the clergy, who enjoyed certain privileges by birth.
• The second estate was constituted by the nobility, who enjoyed feudal privileges.
• The third estate consisted of big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, artisans, small peasants, landless laborers, and servants. Thus, within the third estate, some were rich and others poor. Members of the first two estates were exempted from paying taxes to the state, while only the members of the third estate had to pay taxes.

Q7: Why did members of the third estate walk out of the assembly of the Estates General, called by Louis XVI on 5 May 1789?
Ans: On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of the Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes. The first and second estates sent 300 representatives each, while the third estate sent 600 representatives. Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to the principle that each estate had one vote. This time, members of the third estate demanded that voting be conducted by the assembly as a whole, with each member having one vote. When the king rejected this proposal, members of the third estate walked out of the assembly in protest.

Q8: Which factors were responsible for the subsistence crisis in France in 1789?
Ans: The following factors led to the subsistence crisis in France in 1789:

• The population of France rose dramatically in 1789, leading to a rapid increase in the demand for food grains. Production of grains could not keep pace with the growing demand, causing the price of bread, the staple diet of the majority, to rise rapidly.
• Most workers were employed as laborers in workshops where owners fixed their wages. However, wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices.
• A severe winter reduced the harvest, worsening the food shortage.

Q9: Under what circumstances did Louis XVI finally accord recognition to the National Assembly? Mention the changes brought by the Assembly on the night of 4 August 1789.
Ans: Louis XVI finally accorded recognition to the National Assembly due to the intensifying agitation across France, where peasants were attacking chateaux and protesting against their problems. Faced with the power of the revolting subjects, Louis XVI recognized the National Assembly and accepted the principle that his powers would be limited by a constitution.
On the night of 4 August 1789, the Assembly brought the following changes:

• The feudal system of obligations and taxes was abolished.
• Members of the clergy were forced to give up their privileges.
• Tithes were abolished, and lands owned by the church were confiscated.

Q10: What was a Directory? Why was it dismissed?
Ans: After the fall of the Jacobin government, the wealthier middle classes took power and introduced a new constitution. This constitution denied voting rights to non-propertied sections of society and established two elected legislative councils. These councils appointed a Directory, an executive consisting of five members, to prevent concentration of power. However, the Directors frequently clashed with the legislative councils, leading to the dismissal of the Directory and the rise of Napoleon.

Q11: Describe the triangular slave trade that was carried on during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Ans:

• The triangular slave trade was a system involving Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
• French merchants sailed from European ports like Bordeaux or Nantes to Africa, where they purchased slaves from local chieftains.
• These slaves were then transported across the Atlantic to the Americas, primarily the Caribbean, where they were sold to plantation owners.
• The trade involved the movement of goods, slaves, and resources between these three regions, forming a triangle that exploited African labor for the benefit of European economies.

Q12: "Women had been active participants in the events which brought about many important changes in French society. Still, their condition did not improve." Explain.
Ans: Despite their active participation in events that led to significant changes in French society, women's conditions did not improve. They were disappointed as their involvement did not lead to significant improvements in their lives. Women faced hardships, working for a living in jobs such as seamstresses, laundresses, and domestic servants. Lack of access to education and job training, combined with low wages, left them struggling to support their families and carry out household responsibilities.

Q13: Why is Robespierre’s government known as the Reign of Terror? Give reasons.
Ans: Robespierre's government earned the name "Reign of Terror" due to several reasons:

• Price and wage controls were enforced, with rationing of essentials like meat and bread. Peasants were compelled to sell their grain at government-fixed prices.
• Citizens were mandated to consume "equality bread," made from whole wheat. Churches were repurposed for different uses.
• Robespierre's government adopted radical measures, strict control, and harsh punishment, which created an environment of fear and oppression.
• Even supporters of Robespierre fell under his severe policies, causing anxiety among the people.
• The overall atmosphere of intense control, punishment, and fear during his government led to the label "Reign of Terror." Eventually, Robespierre himself was arrested and executed.

Q14: Describe how slavery was abolished in France?
Ans: The abolition of slavery in French colonies followed these stages:

• The French colonies, particularly in the Caribbean, relied on a triangular slave trade for commodities like sugar, tobacco, and coffee.
• The National Assembly debated extending rights to all French subjects, including those in colonies, but passed no laws due to expected resistance from businesses dependent on the slave trade.
• In 1794, the Convention legislated to free slaves in French overseas territories. However, Napoleon reintroduced slavery in 1804.
• The definitive end to slavery in French colonies came in 1848.

Q15: How did the revolution affect the everyday life of the people in France?
Ans: The French Revolution brought profound changes to people's lives:

• Laws promoting liberty and equality abolished censorship, allowing freedom of speech and expression.
• Revolutionary ideals spread through newspapers, pamphlets, and books, fostering discussions and debates.
• Plays, songs, and processions conveyed revolutionary messages, and the institution of slavery faced criticism and eventual abolition.
• The revolution influenced clothing, language, and reading materials, reflecting evolving political circumstances.
• The government's reforms impacted how people lived, communicated, and interacted.

Q16: Describe how France became a republic?
Ans: France's transition to a republic followed these steps:

• Louis XVI's reluctance to sign the 1791 Constitution led to secret negotiations with the king of Prussia.
• Neighboring countries planned to send troops to suppress the ongoing events in France since 1789.
• The National Assembly declared war against Prussia and Austria in 1792. Volunteers joined the army, singing the Marseillaise.
• Political clubs, especially the Jacobins, played a pivotal role in discussions and actions related to government policies.
• In summer 1792, Parisians stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, leading to the imprisonment of the royal family. Subsequent elections abolished the monarchy, and France was declared a republic. Louis XVI and his queen were publicly executed.

Q17: How did the French Revolution impact the world?
Ans: The French Revolution had global ramifications:

• The ideals of liberty and democratic rights spread beyond France, inspiring movements and revolutions throughout Europe.
• Political revolutions erupted across Europe as people challenged monarchical authority, often drawing inspiration from the French Revolution.
• Colonized regions found inspiration in French ideals, translating them into movements for national sovereignty and independence.
• Notable figures like Tipu Sultan and Rammohan Roy were influenced by the revolutionary ideas from France, showcasing the global reach of the revolution's ideals.