Page 25 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

should be extended to all French subjects including those in the colonies. But now law
was made fearing opposition from the business community.
l It was finally the conventions which in 1794 legislation to free all slaves in the French
overseas possessions. But ten years later, Napoleon reintroduce slavery.
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
VI. Long Answer Questions
1. Explain the role of philosophers in the French Revolution.
Ans. (i) There were many French philosophers and thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu,
Rousseau, etc. who exposed the evils prevailing in the system. They infused people
with the idea of liberty, equality and fraternity.
(ii) Montesquieu: A nobleman by birth, he became a lawyer and a judge. In his book, “The
Spirit of Laws”, he criticised autocracy and praised the democratic republic.
(iii) Jean Jacques Rousseau: Rousseau is regarded as the architect of the French Revolution.
In his famous book, “The Social Contract”, he proved that the government was the result
of a social contract between the people on the one hand, and ruler on the other. So if
the ruler did not fulfill the contract, the people had the right to withdraw their loyalty
to him, and bring down the tyranny of the ruler, by revolting against them.
(iv) John Locke: He was also a great political thinker. He wrote ‘Two Treatises of
Government’ in which he sought to refute the doctrine of the divine and the absolute
right of the monarch.

2. Explain the role of Mirabeau and Abbe’ Sieye’s in the French Revolution.
Ans. l Both Mirabeau and Abbe’ Sieye’s were great political thinkers.
l They were the leaders of the National Assembly which was formed in 1789 after the
failure of the meeting of the Estate General.
l Mirabeau was born in a noble family but was convinced of the need to do away with
a society of feudal privilege.
l He brought out a journal, and delivered powerful speeches to the crowds assembled at
the Palace of Versailles.
Abbe’ Sieye’s originally a priest, wrote an influential pamphlet called, ‘What is the Third
Estate?’

3. How was triangular slave trade carried on during 18th and 19th century?
Ans. l The triangular slave trade was carried between Europe, Africa and America.
l The slave trade began in the seventeenth century. French merchants sailed from the ports of
Bordeaux or Nantes to the African coast, where they bought slaves from local chieftains.
l Branded and shackled, the slaves were packed tightly into ships for the three-month long
voyage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. There they were sold to plantation owners.
l The exploitation of slave labour made it possible to meet the growing demand in
European markets for sugar, coffee, and indigo.
l Port cities like Bordeaux and Nantes owed their economic prosperity to the flourishing
slave trade.

4. Describe the conditions of women during the period of French Revolution.
Ans. Conditions of women during the period of French Revolution are :
l From the very beginning women were active participants in the events which brought
major changes in the French Society.
l Most women of the Third Estate had to work for a living as seamstresses or laundresses.
They even sold flowers, fruits and vegetables at the market.
l They were employed as domestic servants in the house of prosperous people.

History Class IX H-23