The French Revolution began with key events like the storming of the Bastille. It involved key figures such as Louis XVI and Maximilien Robespierre. It was marked by –
- The formation of the National Assembly by the Third Estate
- Adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
- Eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
Key concepts include –
- Estates-General
- The Reign of Terror
- Ideological shift towards Liberalism
- Struggle for liberty, equality, and fraternity
The key points –
- The French Revolution began in 1789, aiming to overthrow the monarchy and establish equality.
- Key events include the storming of the Bastille and the Reign of Terror.
- Important figures: Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Maximilien Robespierre.
- The Revolution led to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Some of the important dates you need to remember as they might come in exams as one marks questions. In addition using them while giving answers can get you full marks.
- 1774: Louis XVI becomes king of France
- 1789: Convocation of Estates General, Third Estate forms National Assembly, the Bastille is stormed, peasant revolts in the countryside
- 1791: A constitution is framed to limit the powers of the king and to guarantee basic rights to all human beings
- 1792-93: France becomes a republic, the king is beheaded
- 1793-94: The Reign of Terror under Robespierre
- 1794: Abolition of slavery in French colonies
- 1799: Overthrow of the Directory, Napoleon seizes power
- 1804: Napoleon becomes emperor of France
- 1815: Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
- 1848: Slavery is finally abolished in French colonies
- 1946: Women in France win the right to vote
MCQ Questions for Class 9 Social Science with Answers are designed for thorough preparation based on the latest exam format. Let’s now solve the MCQs related to Chapter 1 of Class 9 History on the French Revolution –
MCQ Questions for Class 9 History Chapter 1 The French Revolution
Question 1: What was the immediate cause of the French Revolution?
a) Economic hardship
b) Storming of the Bastille
c) Execution of Louis XVI
d) Famine
Answer:
b) Storming of the Bastille — The storming of the Bastille was the immediate cause of the French Revolution.
Question 2: Who was the ruler of France during the French Revolution?
a) Louis XIV
b) Napoleon Bonaparte
c) Louis XVI
d) Marie Antoinette
Answer:
c) Louis XVI — Louis XVI was the ruler of France during the French Revolution.
Question 3: The ‘Estates-General’ was convened in 1789 to address the financial crisis. How many estates were there?
a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Five
Answer:
b) Three — There were three estates in the Estates-General.
Question 4: What did the Third Estate declare itself as on 20th June 1789?
a) The National Assembly
b) The Constituent Assembly
c) The Legislative Assembly
d) The Directory
Answer:
a) The National Assembly — The Third Estate declared itself as the National Assembly on 20th June 1789.
Question 5: Which group of society formed the majority of the Third Estate in France?
a) The Clergy
b) The Nobility
c) The Commoners
d) The Bourgeoisie
Answer:
c) The Commoners — The majority of the Third Estate were commoners.
Question 6: What significant document was adopted by the National Assembly on 26th August 1789?
a) The Declaration of Independence
b) The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
c) The French Constitution
d) The Bill of Rights
Answer:
b) The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen — This document was adopted on 26th August 1789.
Question 7: Which event marked the fall of the monarchy in France?
a) Storming of the Bastille
b) The Tennis Court Oath
c) The Women’s March on Versailles
d) The Execution of Louis XVI
Answer:
d) The Execution of Louis XVI — This event marked the fall of the monarchy in France.
Question 8: Who led the Reign of Terror?
a) Georges Danton
b) Maximilien Robespierre
c) Jean-Paul Marat
d) Napoleon Bonaparte
Answer:
b) Maximilien Robespierre — Robespierre led the Reign of Terror.
Question 9: The French Revolution gave rise to which political ideology?
a) Monarchism
b) Liberalism
Answer:
b) Liberalism — The French Revolution gave rise to the ideology of Liberalism.
Question 10: What was the main objective of the Women’s March on Versailles in October 1789?
a) To demand equal rights for women
b) To protest against the high price of bread
c) To support Louis XVI
d) To abolish the monarchy
Answer:
b) To protest against the high price of bread — The Women’s March was mainly aimed at protesting the high price of bread.
Question 11: What was the main slogan of the French Revolution?
a) Equality, Liberty, Fraternity
b) Justice, Equality, Liberty
c) Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood
d) Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood
Answer:
a) Equality, Liberty, Fraternity — This was the main slogan of the French Revolution.
Question 12: The ‘National Assembly’ in France was formed by members of which Estate?
a) First Estate
b) Second Estate
c) Third Estate
d) Both Second and Third Estates
Answer:
c) Third Estate — The National Assembly was formed by members of the Third Estate.
Question 13: The ‘Tennis Court Oath’ was a vow to continue meeting until:
a) A new constitution was written
b) Louis XVI was overthrown
c) The Bastille was stormed
d) All estates had equal rights
Answer:
a) A new constitution was written — The Tennis Court Oath was a vow to continue meeting until a new constitution was created.
Question 14: The ‘Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen’ proclaimed:
a) The end of the monarchy
b) Rights for women
c) Abolition of feudalism
d) Freedom of speech and equality before the law
Answer:
d) Freedom of speech and equality before the law — This declaration proclaimed freedom of speech and equality before the law.
Question 15: Which estate in France was exempted from paying taille, the chief tax?
a) First Estate
b) Second Estate
c) Third Estate
d) Both First and Second Estates
Answer:
d) Both First and Second Estates — Both the First and Second Estates were exempted from paying taille.
Question 16: The Bastille, a symbol of the French Revolution, was originally:
a) A palace
b) A parliament building
c) A prison
d) A royal treasury
Answer:
c) A prison — The Bastille was originally a prison.
Question 17: Which financial crisis led to the calling of the Estates-General?
a) The cost of wars
b) Bankruptcy due to royal extravagance
c) Economic depression
d) All of the above
Answer:
d) All of the above — These factors collectively led to the financial crisis that necessitated the calling of the Estates-General.
Question 18: The period of the French Revolution from 1793 to 1794 is known as:
a) The Reign of Terror
b) The Directory period
c) The Thermidorian Reaction
d) The Consulate period
Answer:
a) The Reign of Terror — This period is known as The Reign of Terror.
Question 19: The French Revolution officially ended with the rise of:
a) King Louis XVIII
b) Maximilien Robespierre
c) Napoleon Bonaparte
d) The Directory
Answer:
c) Napoleon Bonaparte — The French Revolution is considered to have ended with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Question 20: The ‘Girondins’ and ‘Jacobins’ were:
a) Rival political factions during the Revolution
b) Military leaders
c) Foreign allies
d) Forms of currency
Answer:
a) Rival political factions during the Revolution — The Girondins and Jacobins were rival political factions active during the French Revolution.
Match the following Class 9 History Chapter 1 The French Revolution
Questions
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Convocation of Estates General | (a) Overthrow of the Jacobin republic |
| (ii) Third Estate forms National Assembly | (b) France becomes a republic, the king is beheaded |
| (iii) The Bastille is stormed | (c) Napoleon becomes emperor of France |
| (iv) Peasant revolts in the countryside | (d) A constitution is framed |
| (v) A Directory rules France | (e) Napoleon defeated at Waterloo |
Answers
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Convocation of Estates General | (d) A constitution is framed |
| (ii) Third Estate forms National Assembly | (b) France becomes a republic, the king is beheaded |
| (iii) The Bastille is stormed | (a) Overthrow of the Jacobin republic |
| (iv) Peasant revolts in the countryside | (e) Napoleon defeated at Waterloo |
| (v) A Directory rules France | (c) Napoleon becomes emperor of France |
Fill in the Blanks Questions for Class 9 History Chapter 1 The French Revolution
Now lets solve 12 fill-in-the-blank questions from 1st chapter:
1. The French Revolution led to the end of ___ in France.
Answer:
monarchy
2. The society of estates in France was part of the ___ system.
Answer:
feudal
3. In France, the clergy and the nobility enjoyed certain privileges by ___.
Answer:
birth
4. The Third Estate was composed of big businessmen, merchants, court officials, ___, peasants, artisans, and small peasants.
Answer:
lawyers
5. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and ___.
Answer:
expression
6. The storming of the ___ marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
Answer:
Bastille
7. The National Assembly was formed by the representatives of the ___ Estate.
Answer:
Third
8. The revolutionary government issued laws placing a maximum ceiling on ___ and prices.
Answer:
wages
9. The ___ was a device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person was beheaded.
Answer:
guillotine
10. The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the ___ of Terror.
Answer:
Reign
11. The Jacobins were led by ___ Robespierre.
Answer:
Maximilian
12. The fall of the ___ government allowed the wealthier middle classes to seize power.
Answer:
Jacobin
