Chapter 2: Revolution

Question 1

What resulted in the formation of the United States of America?

Answer 1

The American Revolution, which was the struggle of the Thirteen American colonies on the east coast of the Atlantic i.e., North America against Great Britain resulted in the formation of the United States of America.

Question 2

What was the slogan raised by the colonists?

Answer 2

The colonists raised the slogan ‘No Taxation Without Representation’ against the British.

Question 3

In which year was the Stamp Act passed?

Answer 3

The Stamp Act was passed in the year 1765 by the British Parliament.

Question 4

What did the Stamp Act define?

Answer 4

The Stamp Act levied the first internal tax on the colonies, requiring a stamp to be placed on all printed materials, including legal documents, almanacs, pamphlets and newspapers.

Question 5

What were the Townshend Acts? Name them.

Answer 5

• The Townshend Acts were a series of Acts passed in January 1767, by the British Parliament which placed taxes on colonial imports of tea, paper, glass and paint.
• These acts included the Revenue Act of 1767, the Commissioners of Customs Act, the Vice Admiralty Court Act, the Indemnity Act and the New York Restraining Act.

Question 6

When did the Boston Massacre take place? How many Bostonians were killed?

Answer 6

• The Boston Massacre took place on 5th March 1770.
• Four Bostonians were killed.

Question 7

In which year was the Treaty of Paris signed?

Answer 7

The Treaty of Paris was signed on 3rd September 1783.

Question 8

Name the book written by Rousseau.

Answer 8

Rousseau’s ‘Social Contract’ theory pointed out the offence of the French monarchs.

Question 9

Describe the Boston Tea Party.

Answer 9

1. The Boston Tea Party was one of the key events which led to the growth of the American Revolution. It was an outcome of the Tea Act imposed by the British Parliament that permitted the company to export tea to the American colonies on its account.
2. Merchants acting as middlemen in tea imports lost their business. Shopkeepers were supposed to purchase tea from merchants selected by the British.
3. Only British-owned ships could carry tea. This meant that the American ships could not carry tea and would no longer be used. This was disliked by the Boston Patriots.
4. On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists boarded the three shiploads of taxed tea in Boston and destroyed the tea by throwing it into the Boston Harbour. This event became famous as the Boston Tea Party.

Question 10

Write the Impact of the American Revolution.

Answer 10

1. The revolution had a strong impact on the Thirteen Colonies of America, Great Britain, Ireland and France.
2. It influenced the liberal thought flow throughout the American colonies.
3. It brought the colonial rule in America to an end and gave birth to the United States of America.

Question 11

Describe the Social Causes of the French Revolution.

Answer 11

1. The French society was divided into three estates or classes i.e. the First Estate, the Second
   Estate and the Third Estate. The Clergy and nobles came under the first and the second estates and were the privileged classes. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, businessmen, writers, philosophers, farmers, shopkeepers, etc. formed the third estate and were unprivileged.
2. The clergy and nobles occupied top positions in society and they managed the
   Churches, educational institutions and were exempted from all taxes. They lived a luxurious and extravagant life.
3. On the other hand, all types of taxes were levied on the third estate. This made the lives of the common people very miserable. The doctors, philosophers and other intellectuals aroused the
   common people about their rights.
4. Three types of taxes paid by the third estate were:
   Taille: Direct tax on land paid to the King.
   Tithe: One-tenth of the annual produce as tax to be paid to the Church.
   Gable: Tax on salt paid to the King.