Class 9th French Revolution notes || History chapter 1 Class 9th notes

 Class 9th History Chapter 1  French Revolution Notes - Important points - Short notes... 

  Introduction:

The French revolution is the first successful revolution in Europe it set a landmark in the world History.  The Declaration of the Rights of man and citizen during the French revolution announced the coming of a new era. 

          The slogan of the French revolution Liberty, Freedom and Equality became the new language in world politics. 

French society During the Late 18th Century

Since 1589 , the Bourbon dynasty was ruling France and the kings were absolute monarch. 

i)  In 1774 , Louis XVI of the Bourbon dynasty came to power. 

ii) He married to the Austrian Princess Marie Antoinette at the age of twenty. 

iii) When he became the ruler, he found an empty treasure. 

iv) Long years of wars and extravagant lifestyle had drained all the financial resources of France. 

v) The cost of  maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace of Versailles also added to the problem. 

             Louis XVI helped the Thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from Britain, which was their common enemy. 

Structure of French Society in 18th Century

French society in the 18th century was divided into three estates

i) The first estate (constituted the clergy) 

ii) The second estate ( constituted the nobility) 

iii) The rest  of the population/  poor peasants (constituted the Third estate) 

Social Status of the Estate members

The 90 percent of the population are the part of Third estate. They did not hold any land most of them are landless labourers. 

The members of first two estates, that is clergy and nobility were Privileged by birth. 

They were exempted from paying taxes. Only the people of third estate were paying taxes. 

The Nobles further enjoyed feudal privileges.

Tithes:   A tax levied by the church, comprising One-tenth of the agricultural produce. 

Taille: Tax to  be paid directly to the state. Which were levied on articles of everyday consumption like salt and tobacco. 

Emergence of Middle class

In the 18th century a new social group emerged who were known as the middle class. They had become rich through expansion of overseas trade. 

Outbreak of the Revolution

Estate General - A political body to which the three estate sent their Representatives. 

Assembly of the Estate General

Louis XVI called together an assembly of the Estate general on 5th May 1789 to pass proposal for new taxes. In Versailles, a representative Hall was prepared to host the delegates. 

      The First and second estates sent 300 representatives each, who were seated in rows facing each other on two sides, while the 600 members of the third estate had to stand at the back. 

Demand for Voting in Democratic Way

This time the Estate general demanded a democratic method of voting, Louis XVI also was determined to continue the same Practice. 

But this time members of the third estate demanded that voting now be conducted by assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote. 

National Assembly of Third Estate

The representatives of the third estate assembled in the Hall of an indoor tennis court in the ground of Versailles on 20th June and they viewed themselves as the spoke man for France. They declared themselves as a National assembly. 

Mirabeau and Abbe Siyas were the representative and leaders of National assembly. 

Revolt in Bastille

While, the national assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a Constitution, the rest of France were suffering because a bad harvest led of increase in Bread price. 

On 14th July the agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille. 

The Peasants looted hoarded grain, burnt down documents containing records of manorial dues 

 After facing the power of revolting subject, finally Louis XVI recognised the National assembly and accepted that his powers would from now on be checked by a Constitution. 

On  the night of 4th August, 1789,France passed the law for abolishing the feudal system of obligation and taxes. 

France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy

In 1791 the Constitution was drafted by the National assembly. It's main object was to limit the powers of the monarch. 

Powers were separated among Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. 

The Laws made by the National assembly

i)  The men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer wages were the active citizens. Remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens. 

ii) The Constitution began with a Declaration of the Right of man and Citizens. 

iii) According to this declaration, right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and equality before law, were established as natural rights and it was the duty of state to protect these. 

Situation of France after July Revolution

Since 1789 , France continued to be tense.      Louis XVI entered into a secret negotiation with king of Prussia. 

    The National assembly declared war against Prussia and Austria in April 1792.  It was  a war against kings and aristocracies all over Europe. 

The Jacobin Club

The Jacobin comprised less prosperous section of society. They included shopkeepers, artisans, cooks, shoemakers, watch-makers, printers, servants and daily-wage workers. 

Their leader was Maximillian Robeesierre. 

Newly Elected Assembly:

The Convention

On 10th August 1792 , the Jacobins stormed the palace of the Tuileries, killed the King's guards and held the king himself as hostage for several hours. 

Elections were held and now all men above 21 years of age were allowed to vote. 

The newly elected assembly called the Convention, abolished monarchy on 21st  September 1792.

Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a Court on the charge of treason ( Betrayal of one's country or government) . 

On 21 st January, 1793 he was executed publicly at the place de la Concorde. 

Guillotine -  A device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person is beheaded. 

The  Reign of Terror

The period From 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the 'Reign of Terror'  in France. 

Robespierre followed a  policy of severe control and punishment. 

All those whom Robespierre considered as enemies of the republic including ex - Nobles and clergy, members of the political party, even members of Robespierre's own party who did not agreed with his methods were arrested and tried by a revolutionary tribunal. 

Churches were shut down and their building were converted into barracks or offices. 

He became a dictator of French. So his supporters in the end left him. He finally convicted by a court and guillotine in July 1794.

Role of women in Revolution

Wome played a very significant role in the French Revolution. 

Most of the women belonging to the third estate worked for a living and their occupations included dress makers, laundry workers, flowers vendors etc.. Sometimes worked as maid servants in the houses of the rich. 

Women in France were disappointed with the Constitution of 1791,Which reduced them to passive citizens who had no political rights. They demanded political rights viz, right to vote, to be elected to Assembly and to hold political office. 

To express their own views and demand women started their own political clubs and newspapers. About 60 women's Clubs came up in different cities of France. 

Amongst them The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was most famous. Their demand was that women enjoy the same political rights as men. 

Important Law

 1. Abolition of slavery. 

 2. Censorship - All written material and cultural activities, newspapers, books, play in the old Regime could be performed or Published, only after they had been approved by the censors of the king. 

3. With the abolition of censorship in 1789 and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, freedom of speech and expression became a natural right. 

4. Freedom of the press enabled voicing of opinion and counter opinion. 

5. The ideas of Liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution. 

Conclusion

In 1804 , Napoleon Bonaparte a famous French General, crowned himself Emperor of France. 

He conquered neighbouring European countries, dispossessed dynasties even attacked Russia. 

He saw himself as a moderniser of Europe. He introduced many laws such as the protection of private property and a uniform system of weights and measures provided by the decimal system. 

  He was finally defeated at Waterloo in 1815.

The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution, which spread all over Europe, leading to abolition of feudal systems and freedom of colonised nations. 

   Tipu Sultan and Raja Rammohan Roy are some of the Indians who were inspired by the ideas of the French Revolution. 

                            Timeline

Year                                           Important Events

1774                                   Louis XVI ascended throne of France. 

5th May, 1789 ~     The king called an assembly of the Estate General to pass proposals for new taxes. 

20th June, 1789 ~    Third estate Representative assembled and took the Tennis Court Oath. 

14th July, 1789 ~  Storming of Bastille; French Revolution stared. 

4th August 1789 ~ National Assembly passed a decree to abolish the feudal systems of obligation and taxes. 

5th Oct 1789 ~ Women marched to Versailles and brought back king Louis XVI with them to Paris. 

1791 ~  National Assembly completed draft of new Constitution; Revolutionary woman Olympe de Gouges writes ' Declaration of the Right of Woman and Citizen'. 

April 1792 ~  National Assembly voted to declared a republic. 

1794 ~  Reign of Terror

21st Jan 1793 ~ Louis XVI executed

                1793 - 1794 ~ All slaves in French overseas possessions freed, but decision overturned by Napoleon ten years later

July 1794 ~ Robespierre arrested and executed

  1804~ Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France. 

 1815 ~ Napoleon finally defeated at Waterloo. 

 1848 ~ Slavery finally abolished in French-colonies. 

  1946 ~ Women in France won the right to vote.