CBSE Class 10 Social Science History Revision Notes Chapter 1

Q.1 Describe, what happened after the defeat of Napoleon?

Ans. The aftermaths of the defeat of Napoleon were as follows:

1. In 1815, the representatives of the European powers – Britain, Russia, Prussia and Austria – who had collectively defeated Napoleon, met at Vienna to draw up a settlement for Europe. The Austrian chancellor Duke Metternich hosted the congress. The delegates drew up the Treaty of Vienna in 1815 with the object of undoing most of the changes that had come about in Europe during the Napoleonic wars.

2. As a result of the treaty, Kingdom of the Netherlands, which included Belgium, was set up in the North and Genoa was added to Piedmont in the south.

3. Prussia was given new territories on its western frontiers, while Austria was given control of northern Italy.

4. In the East, Russia was given part of Poland while Prussia was given a portion of Saxony. The main intention was to restore the monarchies that had been overthrown by Napoleon.

Q.2 What was the Civil Code of 1804?

Ans. The Civil Code of 1804 or the Napoleonic Code was introduced by Napoleon in France.

It did away with all the privileges based on birth.

It secured the right to property and established equality before the law.

Its main features were:

1. Administrative divisions were simplified. Means of Transport and communication system were improved.

2. The feudal system was abolished and the peasants were freed from serfdom and manorial dues.

3. Uniform laws, standardized weights and measures and a common national currency were introduced.

Q.3 Briefly trace the process of German unification.

Ans. The following factors led to the unification of Germany:

1. The nationalist feelings which were widespread among middle class Germany in 1848 tried to unite the different regions of the German confederation into a nation-state, governed by an elected parliament.

2. The combined forces of the monarchy and the military supported by the large land owners of Prussia however oppose the initiative of nation building.

3. From then on Prussia took on the leadership of the movement for the national unification and its chief minister Otto von Bismarck was the architect of this process. He carried out this movement with the help of the Prussian army.

4. Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark and France, ended in Prussian victory, paved the way for the process of unification of Germany.

Q.4 What were the ideas of Giuseppe Mazzini?

Ans. The main ideas of Giuseppe Mazzini were:

1. Giuseppe Mazzini opposed monarchical form of government and fought for liberty and freedom.

2. He believed in liberation, unity and republicanism.

3. He gave an idea that the unification of Italy could be done on the basis of Italian liberty.

Q.5 What was the immediate impact of the French Revolution on the European cities?

Ans. The effects of the French Revolution were not only felt by the nation of France but by almost every nation in the modern world. The impact of the French revolution on whole of Europe was as follows:

1. Students and members of educated middle classes began setting up Jacobins clubs.

2. French armies started moving into Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and most part of Italy.

3. With the outbreak of the revolutionary wars, the French armies began to carry the idea of nationalism abroad.

4. The effects of the French revolution were such that it completely changed the political landscape of Europe forever. Future revolutionary movements in 19^th century Europe were based on the ideals of the French Revolution.

Q.6 Explain briefly the administrative system of Napoleon.

Ans. In administrative field, Napoleon had incorporated revolutionary principles in order to make the whole system more rational and efficient.

Main features of Napoleon’s administrative system were:

1. The Civil Code of 1804, usually known as the Napoleonic Code did away with all privileges based on birth, established equality before the law and secured the right to property.

2. Napoleon simplified administrative divisions, abolished the feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom and manorial dues.

3. In the towns guild restrictions were removed. Peasant, workers, artisans and businessmen enjoyed new freedom

Q.7 What do you mean by the term ‘Liberalism’? How it stands for nationalism?

Ans. The term ‘liberalism’ is derived from the latin root ‘ liber’, meaning’ free’ and ‘ism’ means principles. So liberalism means ‘principles of freedom’.

Ideas of national unity in early nineteenth-century Europe were closely allied to the ideology of liberalism. The middle class liberalism stood for freedom for the individual and equality of all before the law. Nineteenth century liberals stressed the inviolability of private property. They organized opposition movements demanding equal political rights. Thus liberalism plays a great role for creating nationalism.

Q.8 Explain what led to the rise of conservatism in early 19th century Europe?

Ans. Conservatism means a political philosophy that stressed the importance of tradition, established institutions and customs, and preferred gradual development to quick change. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, European governments were driven by a spirit of Conservatism. Conservatives believed that established, traditional institutions of state and society – like the monarchy – the Church, social hierarchies, property, private ownership and the family – should be preserved.

Q.9 What were the aims and policies of Bismark?

Ans. Ideas and policies of Bismarck were:

1. Bismarck had total sympathy with the military policy and was determined to carry out it through in spite of the opposition of the Parliament. So he continued to levy and collect the taxes without parliamentary approval and carried out the military reforms.

2. To Bismarck, a powerful army was an instrument for implementing the policy of the unification of Germany through the might and leadership of Prussia.

3. He followed the policy of ‘Blood & Iron’ for unification of Germany. He was hardliner and man of his words.

Q.10 Name two important unified nation states in Europe.

Ans. Italy and Germany

Q.11 Discuss the importance of language in the creation of national identity.

Ans. Language too played an important role in developing nationalist sentiments.
This was especially so in the case of Poland, which did not exist an an independent territory at the end of the eighteenth century as it was partitioned by the Great Powers – Russia, Prussia and Austria. After Russian occupation, Russia replaced the Polish language everywhere. The Clergy in Poland began to use Polish as the language of resistance. Polish began to be used at Church gatherings and all religious gatherings. The emphasis on vernacular language and the collection of local folklore was not just to recover national spirit but also to carry the nationalist message.
5.The use of Polish in Opera’s and music, in folk songs and dances brought to the fore the feelings of collective identity of the people.
6.The Native land’s indigenous language was the bonding link and power to work for own nation state and bring back its glory.

Q.12 Explain the emergence of nation-states in Europe?

Ans. During the nineteenth century, nationalism emerged as a force, which brought about sweeping changes in the political and mental world of Europe. The revolutionaries saw the creation of nation states as a necessary part of their struggle for freedom. The end result of these changes was the emergence of the nation-states in place of the multi-national dynastic empires of Europe. People now started searching for own state and its glorious past. These led to the emergence of nation-states in Europe.

Q.13 What is a nation state?

Ans. A Nation-state is the one in which the majority of its citizens, and not only its rulers, came to develop a sense of common identity and shared history or descent.

Q.14 Who was Ernst Renan? What were his views about a nation?

Ans. Ernst Renan was a French philosopher. He is best known for his influential historical works on early Christianity and his political theories. Renan contrasted the theory of nation suggested by others that a nation is formed by a common language, race, religion etc.

His views about a nation were:

1. “A nation is the culmination of a long past of endeavors, sacrifice, and devotion… “.

2. He also declared that the existence of a nation was based on a “daily plebiscite.”

Q.15 Explain the meaning of the following words.
(1) Plebiscite
(2) Feminist
(3) Ideology
(4) Ethnic
(5) Conservatism

Ans. The meaning of the following words is: –

(1) Plebiscite – A direct vote by which all the people of a region are asked to accept or reject a proposal.

(2) Feminist – Awareness of women’s rights and interests based on the belief of the social, economic and equality of the genders.

(3) Ideology – System of ideas reflecting a particular social and political vision.

(4) Ethnic – Relates to a common racial, tribal, or cultural origin or background that a community identifies with or claims.

(5) Conservatism – A political philosophy that stressed the importance of tradition, established institutions and customs, and preferred gradual development to quick change.

Q.16 Explain briefly the term ‘Balkans’.

Ans. The Balkans was a region of geographical and ethnic variation comprising modern-day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro. The inhabitants of the Balkans were broadly known as Slavs. A large part of the Balkan was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. The spread of the ideas of romantic nationalism in the Balkans together with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire made this region very explosive. The Balkans problem was the most serious tension in Europe after 1817.

Q.17 Who were Marianne and Germania?

Ans. During the French Revolution artists used the female allegory to portray ideas such as Liberty, Justice and the Republic. These ideals were represented through specific objects or symbols. Similar female allegories were invented by artists in the nineteenth century to represent the nation.

Marianne: In France this female allegory was christened Marianne, a popular Christian name, which underlined the idea of a people’s nation. Her characteristics were drawn from those of Liberty and the Republic – the red cap, the tricolor, the cockade.

Germania: 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.

Q.18 What do you mean by the term ‘Absolutist’?

Ans. Literally, absolutist means, a government or system of rule that has no restraint on the power exercised. In History, the term refers to a form of monarchical government that was centralized, militarized and repressive.

Q.19 Who was Giuseppe Mazzini?

Ans. Giuseppe Mazzini was born in Genoa in 1807. He was a revolutionary leader who wanted to unify Italy. He became a member of the secret society of the Carbonari. At the age of 24, he was sent into exile for attempting a revolution in Liguria. He was known for his two underground societies, first Young Italy in Marseilles, and other Young Europe in Berne. He believed that nations are the natural units of mankind.

Q.20 Who was Bismarck?

Ans. Otto von Bismarck was the chief minister of Prussia.

Q.21 Name the the region which become a part of unified Italy in 1858 CE?

Ans. Savoy Sardinia became the part of unified Italy in 1858 CE.

Q.22 Who was Giuseppe Garibaldi?

Ans. Giuseppe Garibaldi was the Italian freedom fighters. He came from a family engaged in coastal trade and was a sailor in the merchant navy. In 1833, he met Mazzini, joined the Young Italy movement and participated in a republican uprising in Piedmont in 1834. The revolt was suppressed and Garibaldi had to flee to South America, where he lived in exile till 1848. In 1854, he supported Victor Emmanuel II in his efforts to unify the Italian states. In 1860, Garibaldi led the famous Expedition of the Thousand to South Italy. New volunteers kept joining through the course of the campaign, till their numbers grew to about 30,000. They were popularly known as Red Shirts. In 1867, Garibaldi led an army of volunteers to Rome to fight the last obstacle to the unification of Italy, the Papal States where a French garrison was stationed. The Red Shirts were easily defeated by the combined troops of France and Papal. It was only in 1870 when, during the war with Prussia, France withdrew its troops from Rome that the Papal States were finally joined to Italy. Giuseppe Garibaldi played a crucial role in the unification of Italy.

Q.23 When did the concept of nationalism arise in Europe?

Ans. During the nineteenth century, nationalism emerged as a force which brought about sweeping changes in the political and mental world of Europe.

Q.24 Given below is the picture of a German almanac. The first picture depicts the scene of the storming of the French Bastille prison and alongside there is another fortress situated in a German province.

a. What did the incident of the Bastille prison signify?
b. Why is the German fortress depicted alongside the picture of the French prison? [2+3=5]

Ans. a. The Bastille Prison was considered as a symbol of monarchical despotism in 18^th century France. The incident of the Bastille prison was a historic one. It signified the initiation of the French Revolution that proclaimed the transfer of sovereignty from the hands of the French monarchy to a body of French citizens.

b. The German fortress is placed alongside as it is a symbol of the despotic rule in the German province of Kassel. The picture depicts the yearning for a similar hope and freedom as achieved by the French citizens during the French revolution. It gives the message that Germans must destroy the absolute power of the monarch if they want to obtain freedom.

Q.25 Name the two underground societies formed by Mazzini?

Ans. The underground societies set up by Mazzini were ‘Young Italy’ in Marseilles and ‘Young Europe’ in Berne.

Q.26 1. What was the ideology of the liberal movements with respect to women?

2. Enumerate on the work done by women during the Frankfurt Parliament. [2+3=5]

Ans. 1. The status of women during the liberal movements was a controversial one. They did not have the same rights as the men, even though they participated in large numbers.

2. The women participated actively during the assembly of the Frankfurt Parliament. They formed their own political associations, brought out several journals and newspapers and took part in political demonstrations and meetings. Despite this, they were denied suffrage rights during the election of the Assembly. In 1848, in the Church of St Paul where the assembly of the Frankfurt Parliament took place, they were seated as mere observers, in one of the upper galleries.

Q.27 Explain how economic interests propagated the national sentiments in Prussia?

Ans. In the economic sphere, liberalism stood for the freedom of markets and the abolition of state-imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and capital. During the nineteenth century this was a strong demand of the emerging middle classes. Such conditions were viewed as obstacles to economic exchange and growth by the new commercial classes, who argued for the creation of a unified economic territory allowing the unhindered movement of goods, people and capital.

In 1834, a customs union or zollverein was formed at the initiative of Prussia and joined by most of the German states. The union abolished tariff barriers and reduced the number of currencies from over thirty to two. The creation of a network of railways further stimulated mobility, harnessing economic interests to national unification. A wave of economic nationalism strengthened the wider nationalist sentiments growing at the time.

Q.28 What do you mean by conservatism?

Ans. Conservatism can be defined as a political philosophy that stressed the importance of tradition, established institutions and customs, and preferred gradual development to quick change.

Q.29 Who was Count Camillo de Cavour?

Ans. Count Camillo de Cavour was the chief minister of the kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, under King Victor Emmanuel II.

Q.30 Which Act was instrumental in formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain?

Ans. The Act of Union (1707) between Britain and Scotland resulted in the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Q.31 Which king was offered the crown in the Frankfurt parliament of 1848?

Ans. King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, the King of Prussia was offered the crown of a united Germany in 1848, which he subsequently rejected.

Q.32 Write about the revolt of the weaving community of Silesia?

Ans. The 1830’s was a year of hardships in Europe. The population increased and wide scale migration took place from rural to urban areas. Peasants struggled under the feudal dues and obligations.

1. The weavers in Silesia revolted against their contractors in 1845 as contractors had drastically reduced the payments on finished goods.

2. They marched in pairs to the contractor’s house, demanding higher wages.

3. The contractor fled in fear with his family and returned after 24 hours, requisitioning the army and had a large number of the weavers shot.

Q.33 Which Treaty is associated with the independence of Greece from the Ottoman Empire?

Ans. The Treaty of Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation.

Q.34 Write a note on the Romanticism, a cultural movement.

Ans. Romanticism was a cultural movement, sought to develop a particular form of nationalist sentiment. Romantic artists
and poets generally criticised the glorification of reason and science and focused instead on emotions, intuition and mystical feelings. In Romanticism the effort was to create a sense of a shared collective heritage, a common cultural past, as the basis of a nation.

Q.35 What did Liberal Nationalism Stand for?

Ans. The term ‘liberalism’ derives from the Latin root liber, meaning free. Liberalism stood for freedom for the individual and equality of all before the law. Politically, it emphasised the concept of government by consent. Since the French Revolution, liberalism had stood for the end of autocracy and clerical privileges, a constitution and representative government through parliament. Nineteenth-century liberals stressed on the inviolability of private property.

Q.36 Who was the architect of the unification of Germany?

Ans. Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Prussia, was the main architect behind the unification of Germany, under Prussian leadership.

Q.37 Correct the following statement and rewrite: After 1815, all conservatives in Europe proposed a return to the society of pre-revolutionary days.

Ans. After 1815, most conservatives in Europe did not propose a return to the society of pre-revolutionary days.

Q.38 Correct the following statement and rewrite: During the unification of Italy, the peasant masses of southern Italy, who supported Garibaldi, were aware of the term Italia.

Ans. During the unification of Italy, the peasant masses of southern Italy, who supported Garibaldi, had never heard of the term Italia.

Q.39 Romantic artists and poets focused on emotions, intuition and mystical feelings, in order to _________________________________.

Ans. Romantic artists and poets focused on emotions, intuition and mystical feelings, in order to create a sense of a shared cultural heritage, a common cultural past, as the basis of a nation.

Q.40 After gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire, the Balkan nations fiercely competed against each other in order to ____________________________________.

Ans. After gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire, the Balkan nations fiercely competed against each other in order to gain more territory for themselves at the expense of others.

Q.41 What was the aim of the French nation, according to the revolutionaries?

Ans. After liberating France from despotic rule, the revolutionaries declared that their nation must aim to free all Europeans from the clutches of despotism, so that they become nations.

Q.42 Which statesman led the movement for the unification of Italy under the rule of Sardinia-Piedmont?

Ans. The movement for the unification of Italy, under the rule of Sardinia-Piedmont, was led by its Chief Minister – Cavour.

Q.43 After the forceful incorporation of Scotland and Ireland into the United Kingdom, the identity of a new ‘British nation’ was forged through _______________________________.

Ans. After the forceful incorporation of Scotland and Ireland into the United Kingdom, the identity of a new ‘British nation’ was forged through the propagation of a dominant English culture.