Question map
Which of the following were the watch words of the French Revolution?
Explanation
The watchwords or slogan of the French Revolution (1789–1799) were 'Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity' (Libert, galit, fraternit ). These ideals were central to the revolutionary struggle against the absolute monarchy and the feudal system [c1][t1]. While the 'Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen' (1789) specifically enumerated rights such as liberty, property, and security [c3][c5], the tripartite motto became the most famous summary of the revolution's spirit [t1][t2]. Maximilien de Robespierre is often credited with first proposing the specific combination of these three words in 1790 [t4][t5]. These principles significantly influenced modern democratic governance and were later incorporated into the Preamble of the Indian Constitution [c1]. Although other terms like 'Justice' were discussed by revolutionary figures, 'Fraternity' remains the definitive third pillar of the official French motto [t4][t8].
Sources
- [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > III Liberty > p. 45
- [2] India and the Contemporary World - I. History-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: The French Revolution > The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen > p. 11
- [3] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 11: The Age of Revolutions > Constitution Making > p. 159
- [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_of_the_French_Revolution
- [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libert%C3%A9,_%C3%A9galit%C3%A9,_fraternit%C3%A9