Creating Collective Identity in French Revolution & Nationalism
What steps did the French revolutionaries take to create a sense of collective identity among the French people?
. Answer:
- The ideas of ‘La Patrie’ (the fatherland) and ‘Le Citoyen’ (the citizen) emphasised the notion of a united community enjoying equal rights under a constitution.
- A new French flag, the tricolour, was chosen to replace the former royal standard.
- New hymns were composed, oaths taken and martyrs commemorated, all in the name of the nation.
- A centralised administrative system was put in place, and it formulated uniform laws for all citizens within its territory.
- Internal customs duties and dues were abolished, and a uniform system of weights and measures was adopted.
- Regional dialects were discouraged and French, as it was spoken and written in Paris, became the common language of the nation.
- The revolutionaries further declared that it was the mission and the destiny of the French nation to liberate the peoples of Europe from despotism. In other words, to help other peoples of Europe to become nations.
Who were Marianne and Germania? What was the importance of the way in which they were portrayed?
Answer:
- Marianne, a popular Christian name – underlined the idea of a people’s nation.
- Her characteristics were drawn from those of Liberty and the Republic – the red cap, the tricolour, the cockade. Statues of Marianne were erected in public squares to remind the public of the national symbol of unity and to persuade them to identify with it.
- The image of Marianne was marked on coins and stamps.
Germania became the allegory of the German nation. In visual representations, Germania wears a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism.
Briefly trace the process of German unification.
Answer:
- Nationalist sentiments were often mobilised by conservatives for promoting state power and achieving political domination over Europe. This can be observed in the process by which Germany and Italy came to be unified as nation-states.
- Middle-class Germans tried to unite the different regions of German Confederation, but their plans were not materialised due to actions of large landowners called Junkers of Prussia. Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark and France ended in a Prussian victory. In Jan 1871, Prussian King William I was proclaimed German emperor.
- Importance was given to modernising the currency, banking, legal and judicial systems in Germany.
What changes did Napoleon introduce to make the administrative system more efficient in the territories ruled by him?
Answer:
The Civil Code of 1804 – usually known as the Napoleonic Code – did away with all the privileges based on birth, established equality before the law and secured the right to property. This Code was exported to the regions under French control. In the Dutch Republic, in Switzerland, in Italy and Germany, Napoleon simplified the administrative divisions, abolished the feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom and manorial dues. In the towns too, guild restrictions were removed. Transport and communication systems were improved. Peasants, artisans, workers and new businessmen enjoyed new-found freedom. Businessmen and small-scale producers of goods, in particular, began to realise that uniform law, standardised weights and measures, and a common national currency would facilitate the movement and exchange of goods and capital from one region to another
a. Why the growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement?
Answer:
People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism.
The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together.
But each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently. Their experiences were varied, and their notions of freedom were not always the same. The Congress under Mahatma Gandhi tried to forge these groups together within one movement. But unity did not emerge without conflict.
b. How the First World War helped in the growth of the National Movement in India?
Answer:
War created a new political and economic situation.
The war led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes. Custom duties were increased, and income tax was introduced.
Forced recruitment in villages caused widespread anger.
Crops failed; this resulted in an acute shortage of food.
12 to 13 million people died due to famines and epidemics.
c. Why were Indians outraged by the Rowlatt Act?
Answer:
Rowlatt Act was introduced in 1919.
This act was hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council, although it was completely opposed by Indian members.
It had given the government enormous powers to repress political activities.
It allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
d. Why Gandhiji decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer:
In February 1922, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. He felt the movement was turning violent in many places and satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles.
2. What is meant by the idea of Satyagraha?
Answer:
The idea of Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through nonviolence. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor. People – including the oppressors – had to be persuaded to see the truth instead of being forced to accept the truth through the use of violence. Through this struggle, the truth was bound to triumph ultimately. Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians.
3. Write a newspaper report on
a) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Answer:
On 13 April, the infamous Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place. On that day, a large crowd was gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwalla Bagh. Some came to protest against the government’s new repressive measures. Others had come to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. Being from outside the city, many villagers were unaware of the martial law that had been imposed. Dyer entered the area, blocked the exit points, and opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds. His objective, as he declared later, was to ‘produce a moral effect’ in the minds of satyagrahis. The incident brought a feeling of terror and awe among people.
b) The Simon Commission
Answer:
When the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan ‘Go back, Simon’. All parties, including the Congress and the Muslim League, participated in the demonstrations. In an effort to win them over, the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, announced in October 1929 a vague offer of ‘dominion status’ for India in an unspecified future and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution. This did not satisfy the Congress leaders.
4. Compare the images of Bharat Mata in this chapter with the image of Germania in Chapter 1.
Answer:
Germania:
Symbol of Germany
The image was painted by Philip Veit in 1848.
Carrying a sword in one hand and flag in another hand
Germania is wearing a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism.
Bharat Mata:
Symbol of India
Painted by Abanindranath Tagore in 1905
Bharat is standing with a Trishul, standing beside a lion and elephant, symbols of power and authority
What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Answer.
- Horizontal distribution of power – Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Example: India
- The federal division of power – Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Example: India (Union Government and State Governments)
- Community government – Power may also be shared among different social groups, such as religious and linguistic groups. Example: Belgium
- Power-sharing between political parties, pressure groups and movements – Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand. In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Answer.
While prudential reasons stress that power-sharing will bring out better outcomes. In India, the power is shared horizontally among various organs of government. The Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are responsible for administering India. Reservation is applicable in India, where various sections are given benefits over others to avoid conflicts.
Moral reasons emphasise the very act of power-sharing as valuable. In India, citizens are conferred with fundamental rights and directive principles of state policies are implied in the government.
After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words. Thomman – Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions. Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions. Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power-sharing, even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Answer.
Ouseph’s conclusion is the right one. Every state should have some or other form of power-sharing. Power-sharing ensures an optimum balance between different sections of society. The chances of conflict lessen, and so does the injustice. Hence, power-sharing becomes the value of democracy. Also, power-sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order
The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate into this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Answer.
The measure of the Mayor of Merchtem to ban French-speaking in the town’s schools near Brussels is unfair. It does not keep with Belgium’s power-sharing arrangement. Power-sharing helps maintain a balance between different sections of society. In Belgium, there is a need to maintain the power-sharing between the Dutch and the French to avoid civil unrest. Banning the French will promote the tendency of civil unrest. To promote peace among different communities, the Mayor should promote a bilingual education system in the town’s schools.
. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
Answer:
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms found on earth. It is a measure of variation at the ecosystem, species and genetic level. Biodiversity is abundant in tropical areas. Tropical areas cover 10 per cent of the earth surface, but they host 90% of the world’s species.
Contribution of biodiversity in human lives
Agriculture – A variety of plant species meet our needs for food.
Its contribution to business and industry
Leisurely activities
Ecological processes
(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain
Answer:
Various river valley projects have affected the flora and fauna.
Many illegal mining projects have depleted the flora and fauna.
Too many development projects for leisure activities in the forests have negatively affected them.
Too many human activities in the forest area due to rising population and lack of space has created human-animal conflict.
5. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India.
Answer:
Chipko Movement:
The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has not only successfully resisted deforestation in several areas, but has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be enormously successful.
Certain societies revere a particular tree which they have preserved from time immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhals of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees. The tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees during weddings. Many people also consider peepal and banyan trees sacred.
In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. In many areas, villagers themselves are protecting habitats and are explicitly rejecting government involvement. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of rules and regulations which do not allow hunting and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.
(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.
Answer:
In India, joint forest management (JFM) programme is a good example for the involvement of local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. The programme has been in formal existence since 1988 when the state of Odisha passed the first resolution for joint forest management. JFM depends on the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In return, the members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber forest produces and a share in the timber harvested by ‘successful protection’. The clear lesson from the dynamics of both environmental destruction and reconstruction in India is that local communities everywhere have to be involved in some kind of natural resource management. But there is still a long way to go before local communities are at the centre stage in decision-making. Accept only those economic or developmental activities that are people-centric, environment-friendly and economically rewarding.
Forest and Wildlife Resources Summary
The students will get to know about the following topics:
Flora and Fauna in India
Different types of species
Conservation of Forest and wildlife in India
Project Tiger
Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife resources
Community and Conservation
‘Contemporary India-II’ is an important book for Class 10 Social Science subject. Apart from this chapter, the full set of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science is given in the linked article.