French Revolution – 5-Mark Answers
1. 1) Describe the events that took place on 14th July 1789 in France.
On the morning of *14th July 1789*, Paris was in a state of alarm. The king had
ordered troops to enter the city, causing panic among the people. Around *7,000
men and women* gathered at the Town Hall and decided to form a people's militia.
They broke into government buildings in search of arms. A group then stormed the
*Bastille*, a fortress-prison symbolizing the *despotic power of the king*. The
commander was killed, and prisoners were released. Though only seven were freed,
the event became a *symbol of revolution* and led to widespread riots in Paris and
the countryside.
2. 2) Describe the division of the society before the French revolution.
French society was divided into *three estates*. The *First Estate* comprised the
*clergy*, the *Second Estate* included the *nobility*, and the *Third Estate*
consisted of *peasants, artisans, workers, and the bourgeoisie*. The *First and
Second Estates were privileged*, enjoying *tax exemptions*, while the *Third Estate
bore the entire tax burden*, despite making up *about 98%* of the population. This
unequal system created *resentment and tension*, contributing to revolutionary
feelings.
3. 3) What was the Tennis Court Oath?
After being denied equal voting rights at the Estates General, the *Third Estate*
representatives assembled at an *indoor tennis court* on *20th June 1789*. There,
they took an oath not to disperse until they had *drafted a new constitution* for
France. This event is known as the *Tennis Court Oath*. It marked the beginning of
the *National Assembly* and the demand for a *constitutional monarchy*.
4. 4) List and explain the successful achievements of the National Assembly from
1789 to 1791.
*The National Assembly* achieved several key reforms:
- On *4 August 1789*, it *abolished feudal privileges*.
- It adopted the *Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen*, ensuring *liberty,
equality, and fraternity*.
- It *confiscated Church lands* to pay off national debt.
- In *1791*, it drafted the *first constitution of France*, establishing a
*constitutional monarchy* with power divided among the *legislature, executive,
and judiciary*.
5. 5) Who were Jacobins? How did they get their name? What was their role in the
emergence of France as a republic?
The *Jacobins* were a *radical political club* consisting mainly of *small
shopkeepers, artisans, and wage earners*. They were named after the *former
convent of St. Jacob* in Paris where they held their meetings. Under the leadership
of *Maximilian Robespierre*, they led the *insurrection of August 10, 1792*,
stormed the *Tuileries Palace*, and overthrew the monarchy. The Jacobins
established the *National Convention*, which declared France a *republic* and
abolished the monarchy.
6. 6) Explain the events or incidents which led to the Outbreak of the French
Revolution.
Several incidents led to the Revolution:
- *Economic crisis* due to debt and rising bread prices.
- *Social inequality* where only the Third Estate paid taxes.
- *Failure of Estates General* in May 1789, where the Third Estate was denied equal
voting rights.
- The *formation of the National Assembly* and the *Tennis Court Oath*.
- The *storming of the Bastille* on *14 July 1789*, which became the spark for
widespread revolts.
7. 7) How did storming of Bastille become the main cause of the French
Revolution?
The *storming of the Bastille* became the main cause as it *symbolized the people's
revolt* against the *king's absolute power*. It marked the *beginning of the
Revolution* and *inspired uprisings* across France. The fall of the Bastille showed
the *weakness of the monarchy* and gave *momentum to revolutionary ideas*. It
directly pressured the king to recognize the *National Assembly* and led to the
*abolition of feudal privileges*.
8. 8) Discuss the main causes of the French Revolution.
*Main causes* included:
- *Social inequality* in the Estate system.
- *Economic hardship* and rising bread prices.
- *Heavy taxation* on the Third Estate.
- *Weak leadership* of Louis XVI.
- *Influence of Enlightenment philosophers* promoting liberty and equality.
- *Immediate trigger* was the storming of the Bastille.
9. 9) How did philosophers influence the thinking of the people?
Philosophers like *John Locke*, *Rousseau*, and *Montesquieu* influenced people
by advocating ideas of *natural rights*, *equality*, and *democratic government*.
- *Locke* opposed divine right and supported *life, liberty, property*.
- *Rousseau* proposed a *social contract* between rulers and people.
- *Montesquieu* suggested *separation of powers*. Their ideas were discussed in
*salons and coffee houses*, spreading among educated classes and influencing the
*middle class and revolutionaries*.
10. 10) Explain the Reign of Terror in detail.
The *Reign of Terror* lasted from *1793 to 1794* under *Robespierre's rule*.
Anyone seen as an 'enemy' of the republic was *arrested, tried, and guillotined*.
Laws fixed prices and wages. Churches were closed. Robespierre's harsh policies
created fear. Eventually, even his supporters turned against him. He was arrested
and executed in *July 1794*.
11. 11) What was the impact of French Revolution on France?
The French Revolution had long-lasting effects:
- *Monarchy was abolished*, and *France became a republic*.
- *Feudal privileges were ended*.
- *Declaration of Rights of Man* introduced ideas of *liberty, equality, and
fraternity*.
- Spread of *democratic ideas* across Europe.
- Inspired *future revolutions and reforms* in other parts of the world.
