1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.
Answer:The French Revolution started because the common people were heavily taxed while the clergy and nobility enjoyed privileges. France’s debt from wars and the monarchy’s lavish spending worsened the economy, causing food shortages and high bread prices. The spread of ideas about equality and democracy pushed people to demand change.
2. Which groups of French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?
Answer: The middle class and peasants gained rights and were freed from feudal dues. The clergy, nobility, and monarchy lost power and privileges. Women and landless workers were disappointed because they were left out of political reforms, and their problems were not fully addressed.
3. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Answer: The French Revolution spread ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy worldwide. It inspired movements for independence and human rights, especially in colonized countries, and became a model for challenging oppressive governments and creating modern democratic societies.
4. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution.
Answer:
- Equality before the law
- Freedom of speech and expression
- The right to vote
- Liberty
- Right to property
- Protection from oppression
5. Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions? Explain.
Answer: Yes, there were contradictions in the revolution’s message. While it promoted equality, women couldn’t vote. Slavery was abolished but later brought back. Many poor people didn’t see real improvements, so the promises of universal rights weren’t fully kept.
6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?
Answer: Napoleon became powerful because people were tired of the chaos after the revolution. As a strong military leader, he promised stability and kept some of the revolution’s ideas. This made him popular, and in 1804, he made himself Emperor, bringing an end to the disorder.