Page 9 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

Activity (Page no. 13)

1. Identify the symbols in Box 1 which stand for liberty, equality and fraternity.

Ans. Liberty: The broken chain and the Red Phrygian cap.
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
Equality: The winged women and the Law tablet.
Fraternity: The bundle of rods or fasces and Blue-white-red.
2. Explain the meaning of the painting of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
(Fig. 8) by reading only the symbols.
Ans. The figure on the right represents France. The figure on the left is the symbol the law.
The winged woman symbolizes the right to liberty, property, equality, etc written in the
new Constitution of France. The figure on the right symbolizes the law. The law tablet
signifies equality before the law for all French citizens. The bundle of rods depicts strength
lies in unity. The broken chains signify freedom.

3. Which groups of French society would have gained from the Constitution of 1791?
Which groups would have had reason to be dissatisfied? What developments does
Marat (Source B) anticipate in the future?
Ans. Only some members of the Third Estate, who were rich and propertied, would have
gained from this Constitution. Members of the First and Second Estates would have been
dissatisfied as their privileges were taken away and they had to pay taxes.
Marat anticipates another revolution in which the poor will rebel against the rich section
of the Third Estate and overthrow them, just like they had done with the nobles and
clergy.

3. FRANCE ABOLISHES MONARCHY AND BECOMES A REPUBLIC
l In April 1792, the National Assembly voted for a war against Prussia and Austria.

Marseillaise became the national anthem of France.
• The revolutionary wars brought economic difficulties and huge losses.
• Women took care of their families.
• Large sections of the population demanded that the revolution had to be carried further,
as the Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections of society.
• Political clubs were formed, and among them, Jacobins became the most famous.
• Members of the Jacobin club included small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers,
pastry cooks, watch-makers, printers, as well as servants and daily-wage workers.
• Jacobin members started wearing long striped trousers similar to those worn by dockworkers.
• These Jacobins were called the sans-culottes, literally meaning ‘those without knee
breeches’. Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.
• On August 10 1792, Jacobins stormed the Palace of the Tuileries and held the king
hostage for several hours. The Assembly voted to imprison the royal family.
• Elections were held, and all men of 21 years and above regardless of wealth, got the
right to vote.
• The monarchy was abolished on 21 September 1792, and France was declared a republic.
• Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on the charge of treason. He was executed
on 21 January 1793, followed shortly by the queen.

History Class IX H-7