The French Revolution — Class 9 MCQs with Answers
Class 9 CBSE Social Science · Chapter 101
Pre-2026 syllabusThis chapter is from the older NCERT book. See the 2026-27 Class 9 Social Science chapters →
45 practice questions · 15 Easy · 15 Medium · 15 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 9 CBSE Social Science questions from Chapter 101, "The French Revolution". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 45 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 15 Easy, 15 Medium and 15 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that set top scorers in CBSE Board exams apart.
To score well in "The French Revolution", focus on dates, cause and effect, and reading maps and sources. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This trains you to stay accurate under time pressure, as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on The French Revolution, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 9 Social Science mastery score. 9 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Key concepts: The French Revolution (Class 9 Social Science)
This chapter traces the causes, events and impact of the French Revolution of 1789, which ended absolute monarchy and spread the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity.
- The Old Regime
- Pre-1789 French society was divided into three estates; the clergy and nobility were privileged and tax-exempt, while the Third Estate bore the tax burden.
- Causes of the revolution
- Financial crisis, an unjust tax system, food scarcity, and Enlightenment ideas (Rousseau, Montesquieu) questioning privilege and absolute rule.
- Outbreak of 1789
- The storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 became the symbol of the revolution; feudal privileges were abolished.
- Declaration of Rights
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed liberty, equality and rights for all citizens.
The French Revolution — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 9 Social Science)
9 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. The other 36 are timed and scored when you sign in.
- Q1Easy
On which date was the Bastille fortress stormed, marking the symbolic start of the French Revolution?
A.14 July 1789✓ CorrectB.4 August 1789C.26 August 1789D.21 January 1793Answer: A. 14 July 1789
Explanation: The Bastille, a royal prison, was stormed on 14 July 1789. This date is now celebrated as Bastille Day in France.
- Q2Easy
Pre-revolutionary French society under the Old Regime was divided into how many Estates?
A.TwoB.FourC.FiveD.Three✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Three
Explanation: French society was divided into three Estates: the First (clergy), Second (nobility), and Third (commoners including peasants, artisans, and middle class).
- Q3Easy
The 'Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen' was adopted in which year?
A.1776B.1789✓ CorrectC.1793D.1791Answer: B. 1789
Explanation: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was adopted by the National Assembly on 26 August 1789, proclaiming liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty.
- Q4Medium
Why did the Third Estate walk out of the Estates General in June 1789 and form the National Assembly?
A.They wanted to declare war on AustriaB.They were excluded from the meeting hall due to overcrowdingC.The king refused to give each estate equal votes; the Third Estate demanded individual voting✓ CorrectD.They disagreed on taxation of the clergyAnswer: C. The king refused to give each estate equal votes; the Third Estate demanded individual voting
Explanation: In the Estates General, voting was by estate (each estate one vote), meaning the First and Second could always outvote the Third. The Third Estate demanded voting by head. When refused, they declared themselves a National Assembly on 17 June 1789.
- Q5Medium
France's financial crisis before 1789 was partly caused by its involvement in which war that heavily depleted the treasury?
A.The Seven Years' War against PrussiaB.The Crimean WarC.The War of Spanish SuccessionD.The American War of Independence against Britain✓ CorrectAnswer: D. The American War of Independence against Britain
Explanation: France spent heavily supporting the American colonies against Britain in the War of Independence (1775–1783). This added massively to the existing national debt and was a key trigger for the revolution.
- Q6Medium
The Constitution of 1791 in France established which type of government?
A.A republic with universal suffrageB.A constitutional monarchy with limited powers for the king✓ CorrectC.A military dictatorship under the armyD.An absolute monarchy with reformed tax rulesAnswer: B. A constitutional monarchy with limited powers for the king
Explanation: The Constitution of 1791 created a constitutional monarchy. The king retained executive power but the Legislative Assembly (elected by property-owning males) held legislative power.
- Q7Hard
The Jacobins represented the radical phase of the Revolution. Their ideology was distinct from the earlier revolutionaries (Girondins) because the Jacobins:
A.Supported constitutional monarchy and gradual reformB.Favoured federalism and decentralising power to the provincesC.Wanted to restore the Church's power and protect aristocratic land rightsD.Mobilised the urban poor (sans-culottes), advocated radical democracy, and used state violence to eliminate enemies✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Mobilised the urban poor (sans-culottes), advocated radical democracy, and used state violence to eliminate enemies
Explanation: Jacobins allied with Parisian sans-culottes (labourers), advocated universal male suffrage, price controls (Maximum), and the Reign of Terror to eliminate counter-revolutionaries. The Girondins, by contrast, represented provincial middle-class interests and opposed centralised terror.
- Q8Hard
Analyse the structural reasons why the Old Regime in France was unstable. Which combination best explains the multi-dimensional crisis of 1787–89?
A.Fiscal bankruptcy + regressive tax system + Enlightenment ideas + harvest failures✓ CorrectB.Military defeats + religious conflict + plagueC.Over-population + colonial losses + religious warsD.Industrial decline + trade wars + political censorship aloneAnswer: A. Fiscal bankruptcy + regressive tax system + Enlightenment ideas + harvest failures
Explanation: The Revolution resulted from convergent crises: (1) State bankruptcy from wars; (2) A tax system where the rich (nobles/clergy) were exempt, putting all burden on the poor; (3) Enlightenment ideas questioning absolute monarchy; (4) The 1788 harvest failure triggering bread riots. No single cause explains it — the interaction of all four created a revolutionary situation.
- Q9Hard
Evaluate the following claim: 'The French Revolution achieved its ideals of liberty and equality for all citizens.' Which assessment is most accurate?
A.True — universal suffrage and equal rights were immediately granted to allB.Partially true — it advanced rights for propertied men but excluded women, the landless poor, and colonial slaves✓ CorrectC.False — the Revolution made no improvements over the Old Regime for any groupD.True — the Napoleonic Code gave women equal property and voting rightsAnswer: B. Partially true — it advanced rights for propertied men but excluded women, the landless poor, and colonial slaves
Explanation: The Revolution proclaimed universal ideals but fell far short in practice: The 1791 Constitution gave political rights only to 'active citizens' (property-owning men); women were explicitly excluded from political life (their clubs were banned in 1793); slavery was restored in colonies in 1802; the Napoleonic Code actually restricted women's legal rights compared to the Revolution's early period.
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What are the key concepts in Class 9 Social Science The French Revolution?+
This chapter traces the causes, events and impact of the French Revolution of 1789, which ended absolute monarchy and spread the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity. Key ideas include The Old Regime, Causes of the revolution, Outbreak of 1789, Declaration of Rights.
What does Class 9 Social Science Chapter 101 (The French Revolution) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 45 NCERT-based MCQs on "The French Revolution": 15 Easy, 15 Medium and 15 Hard. Together they make 6 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "The French Revolution" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "The French Revolution" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year on a launch offer until 1 December 2026. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "The French Revolution" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 6 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "The French Revolution" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 9 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "The French Revolution" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from The French Revolution (Class 9 Social Science)?+
The questions that matter most test The Old Regime, Causes of the revolution, Outbreak of 1789, Declaration of Rights. This page shows 9 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations; all 45 questions on the chapter are available as timed quizzes once you sign in.
Is there an online quiz for The French Revolution?+
Yes — Class 9 Social Science The French Revolution has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.