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Explain the role played by women in France during the revolutionary years.
Answer:
Points to remember
- Women started their political clubs .
- They demanded equal political rights for women as men .
- They were disappointed that the constitution of 1791 reduced them to passive citizens .
- They demanded the right to vote , to be elected to the assembly and to hold political office . Only then their interests would be represented .
- The revolutionary government did introduce laws that helped improve the lives of women .
- But during the reign of terror , the new government closed the women’s clubs and banned their political activities .
- Women's movement for voting rights and equal wages continued for the next two hundred years.
Answer to be written
Role of women during the revolutionary years:
- To discuss and voice their interests, women started their political clubs and newspapers .
- Their main political demand was equal political rights for women as men .
- They were disappointed that the Constitution of 1791 reduced them to passive citizens .
- They demanded the right to vote , to be elected to the Assembly and to hold political office . They felt only then their interests would be represented in the new government .
- In the early years, the revolutionary government did introduce laws that helped improve the lives of women.
- But during the Reign of Terror , the new government issued laws ordering the closure of women’s clubs and banning their political activities . Many prominent women were arrested and a number of them were executed .
- Women’s movements for voting rights and equal wages continued through the next two hundred years in many countries of the world .
