Question : “No event as encompassing as the French Revolution occurs in an intellectual vaccum”.
(2007)
Answer : The French Revolution was one of the world shocking events of the world history. The material revolution of 1789 was preceded by a revolution in the realms of ideas.
This intellectual revolt was brought about by a group of French philosophers of whom the most prominent were Montesquieu, Voltaire & Rousseau. Their writings gave expression to the discontent and indignation which lay latest in the hearts of the French people Montesquieu was an ardent advocate of ....
Question : “No taxation without representation.”
(2006)
Answer : No taxation without representation was the ringing slogan of the American War of Independence and captured the very core issue involved in the historic event. It basically connoted the people’s right to representation and their struggle to get it enforced.
Britain had been treating the American colonies to serve her own needs. Britain had imposed severe economic restrictions upon the colonies.
The Navigation Acts ensured that the colonies could trade only in British shops and with Britain ....
Question : What were the factors that worked in the drafting of the American Constitution? Do you agree with Bread’s view of the Constitution being an Economic document?
(2005)
Answer : The American Revolution and the US Constitution drafter after the defeat of imperial Britain at the hands of thirteen colonies constitute epoch making events in the political history of the world and in the constitutional development of modern times. Several factors worked in the drafting of the American constitution.
In drafting the constitution of America, the representatives of the 13 colonies met at the
Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 and made a declaration.
In ....
Question : “Though reform was inevitable, the Act (1832) by which it was accomplished was open to grave criticism!”
(2005)
Answer : The first half of the 19th century constitutes an important landmark in the history of Europe. For during this period, Europe saw many attempts at liberalism and democracy. The centre of such movements was France.
But it was England where the movements for liberalism got their solid foot hold. This was in form of the Great Reform Act of 1832. But the Act, landmark though it may have been, on hindsight it became subject of grave ....
Question : “The writings of the philosophers had a tremendous influence on the minds of people and created a revolutionary awakening in their minds and formed the intellectual creed of the French Revolution.”
(2005)
Answer : The French Revolution of 1789 was one of the path-breaking events in the modern history of the world,
however, it was the material revolution in the realm of ideas. In this connection, the writings of the philosophers had a tremendous influence.
The intellectual revolt was brought about by a group of French philosophers of whom the most prominent were Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau. Their writings gave expression to the discontent & indignation which lay latent in ....
Question : ‘Napoleon was the child of the Revolution, but in many ways he reversed the aims and principles of the movement from which he sprang...’
(2004)
Answer : There is no denying the fact that the French Revolution created Napolean (1769-1821). It was this man who, in 1799, combined a passion for power with his genius for leadership. Although much of what Napoleon accomplished over fifteen years seemed to undermine the principles of 1789, the end result was that many of the achievements of the Revolution were made French realities. Indeed, these realities were also made manifest across Europe. Napoleon was born in ....
Question : Review the background of the Chartist Movement. Despite its failure how had their demands been met in the succeeding years?
(2004)
Answer : Radical British democratic movement, mainly of the working classes flourished around 1838 to 1848. It derived its name from the People’s Charter, a six-point programme comprising universal male suffrage, equal electoral districts, secret ballot, annual parliaments, and abolition of the property qualification for, and payment of, members of Parliament. The movement grew out of the London Working Men’s Association, formed in 1836 by William Lovett. Two petitions were presented to Parliament (in 1839 and 1842), ....
Question : “The French Revolution” attacked privileges and not property.
(2003)
Answer : French society was divided into classes or estates. There were two privileged classes—the elergy and the nobility. These were known as the first estate and estate respectively. These two classes together owned about 40 per cent of the total land of France. They were exempted from taxes and controlled most of the administrative posts and all the high ranking posts in the army. Their income primarily came from their large land holdings. A minority of ....
Question : “If monarchical misrule ignited the French Revolution, lofty ideas both inspired and sustained it.”
(2002)
Answer : The monarchial misrule as well as brain storming ideas of the great thinkers and philosophers had ignited the French revolution. The despotic rule in France had been highly exploitative and the income of the state in France was considered as the income for the ruler. Rulers also claimed that they had divine right to rule over France. Lui XIV claimed that he himself was the state. Lui’s XVI had an opinion that whatever he said ....
Question : ‘The Napoleonic empire was doomed because of its inherent and self-defeating contradictions! Elucidate.
(2001)
Answer : The Napoleon’s Empire was doomed because of its inherent and self-defeating Contradiction. Its programme of conquest ensured remorseless British resistance. There was no truce from May, 1803 until Napoleon’s abdication in 1814. The failure of his attempt to invade Britain and the battle of trafalgar made it clear that Britain remained superior at sea. So Napoleon had to resort to the continental system in an effort to undermine the naval power by economic weapons.
Napoleon’s continental ....
