The French Revolution Notes: Class 9 History Chapter 1
Class 9 History Chapter 1 The French Revolution covers French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century, The Outbreak of the Revolution, France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic, The Reign of Terror, Did Women Have a Revolution?, The Abolition of Slavery, and The Revolution and Everyday Life.
Overview of Topics & Subtopics (Click to Jump)
1. French Society During the Late 18th Century & Causes
Short Note:
• French Estates System: French society was divided into three Estates:
1. First Estate (Clergy): Owned vast lands and paid no taxes.
2. Second Estate (Nobility): Enjoyed feudal privileges and paid no taxes.
3. Third Estate (Peasants, Artisans, Merchants, Lawyers): Composed ~98% of the population and paid all taxes (e.g., Tithe to Church, Taille direct tax to State).
• Subsistence Crisis: Rapid population growth (23 million to 28 million) led to grain shortage, rising bread prices, and drought/hailstorms, causing an extreme survival crisis.
• Role of Philosophers: Thinkers like John Locke (Two Treatises of Government), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract), and Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws) inspired revolutionary ideas of equality, liberty, and democratic government.
2. Outbreak of Revolution & Constitutional Monarchy
Short Note:
• Estates-General Meeting (May 5, 1789): Louis XVI called a meeting to raise taxes. The Third Estate demanded 'one member, one vote' instead of 'one estate, one vote'. Upon rejection, they walked out.
• Tennis Court Oath (June 20, 1789): Led by Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyès, Third Estate delegates declared themselves the National Assembly and swore to draft a constitution.
• Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): An agitated mob stormed and destroyed the Bastille fortress prison, symbolizing the collapse of despotic royal power.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1791): Established fundamental rights like right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and equality before law.
3. Reign of Terror, Abolition of Slavery & Legacy
Short Note:
• The Reign of Terror (1793–1794): Maximilien Robespierre, leader of the Jacobin Club, followed a policy of severe control and punishment. Opponents were tried and executed via the guillotine.
• Abolition of Slavery: The Jacobin regime abolished slavery in French colonies in 1794. Napoleon re-introduced it in 1802, and it was finally abolished in 1848.
• Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte: After the fall of the Jacobins, the political instability of the Directory paved the way for Napoleon to crown himself Emperor of France in 1804.
• Global Impact: Spread ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity across Europe, inspiring anti-colonial movements in India (e.g., Tipu Sultan, Raja Rammohan Roy).
Intext & Conceptual Questions
| Estate | Composition | Privileges & Tax Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| First Estate | Clergy (Church officials) | Exempt from paying all taxes; collected Tithe (tax on agricultural produce) from peasants. |
| Second Estate | Nobility (Aristocrats, landowners) | Exempt from taxes; enjoyed feudal dues and feudal privileges over peasants. |
| Third Estate | Peasants, artisans, merchants, court officials, lawyers | Had no feudal privileges; paid all direct (Taille) and indirect taxes on items like salt and tobacco. |
The period from 1793 to 1794 in France under Maximilien Robespierre is known as the Reign of Terror.
Key Measures Taken:
1. Strict Price and Wage Controls: Maximum ceilings were set on wages and prices of essential goods.
2. Rationing: Meat and bread were rationed; citizens were forced to eat Égalité (equality) bread made of whole wheat.
3. Use of Guillotine: Anyone considered an 'enemy of the republic' (nobles, clergy, rival politicians) was arrested, tried by a revolutionary tribunal, and guillotined if found guilty.
Textbook Chapter End Exercise Questions
The outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 was caused by a combination of social, economic, and political factors:
1. Social Inequality: Society was divided into three estates where the privileged First and Second Estates paid no taxes, placing the entire tax burden on the Third Estate.
2. Financial Bankruptcy: Long years of war, maintenance of the extravagant Court of Versailles, and financial aid to 13 American colonies drained the French treasury.
3. Subsistence Crisis: Bad harvests, rapid population growth, and high bread prices caused severe starvation and poverty among common people.
4. Influence of Philosophers: Writings of Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu inspired people to demand equality, democracy, and freedom.
5. Immediate Cause: King Louis XVI called the Estates-General on May 5, 1789, to impose new taxes. When the Third Estate's demand for equal voting was rejected, they revolted.
• Groups that Benefited: The Third Estate—especially the educated middle class (lawyers, merchants, doctors) and prosperous peasants/artisans—gained political rights, equality before law, and relief from feudal taxes.
• Groups Forced to Relinquish Power: The First Estate (Clergy) and Second Estate (Nobility) lost their feudal privileges, exemption from taxes, and control over confiscated Church lands.
• Disappointed Groups: Women and poorer peasants/labourers were disappointed as they were categorized as 'passive citizens' and initially denied voting rights.
The primary democratic rights we enjoy today that originated from the French Revolution include:
1. Right to Equality: Equality before law and equal protection of laws.
2. Freedom of Speech and Expression: Right to express opinions without censorship.
3. Freedom of Press: Freedom to print and publish news and viewpoints.
4. Right to Liberty and Personal Freedom: Protection against arbitrary arrest.
5. Secularism and Religious Freedom: State independence from religious institutions.