The French Revolution | Role of Women MCQs Quiz | Class 9
This quiz for Class IX History, covering the Unit ‘Events and Processes’, focuses on the topic ‘The French Revolution’ with specific emphasis on women’s clubs and their demands. Test your knowledge on the role of women in revolutionary France, submit your answers to see the score, and download the solution PDF for revision.
Overview: Women in the French Revolution
From the very beginning, women were active participants in the events which brought about so many important changes in French society. They hoped that their involvement would pressurize the revolutionary government to introduce measures to improve their lives. Most women of the Third Estate had to work for a living as seamstresses, laundresses, or domestic servants. They did not have access to education or job training, unlike daughters of nobles or wealthier members of the Third Estate.
Key Topics & Demands
- Political Clubs: In order to discuss and voice their interests, women started their own political clubs and newspapers. About 60 women’s clubs came up in different French cities.
- The Most Famous Club: The “Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women” was the most prominent.
- Main Demands: Women were disappointed that the Constitution of 1791 reduced them to passive citizens. They demanded the right to vote, to be elected to the Assembly, and to hold political office.
- Olympe de Gouges: A politically active woman who protested against the Constitution and the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen as they excluded women. She wrote the “Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen” in 1791.
Laws and Changes
In the early years, the revolutionary government did introduce laws that helped improve the lives of women:
| Measure | Impact |
|---|---|
| Schooling | State schools were created; schooling was made compulsory for all girls. |
| Marriage | Fathers could no longer force marriage. Marriage became a contract registered under civil law. |
| Divorce | Made legal; could be applied for by both men and women. |
| Reign of Terror | The new government issued laws ordering the closure of women’s clubs and banning their political activities. Many prominent women were arrested and executed. |
Quick Revision List
- 1791: Olympe de Gouges writes Declaration of the Rights of Woman.
- 1793: Women’s clubs banned during the Reign of Terror.
- 1946: Women in France finally won the right to vote.
- Symbolism: The female figure “Marianne” became a symbol of Liberty.
Extra Practice Questions
- Why were women termed “passive citizens” in the Constitution of 1791?
- Name one law introduced by the revolutionary government to improve women’s lives.
- Who was Olympe de Gouges and why was she executed?
- What was the significance of the women’s march to Versailles in October 1789?
- How did the Jacobin government treat women’s political activities?
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