Complete Study Notes for Class 9
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Introduction 🇫🇷
The French Revolution was one of the most significant events in world history that began in 1789 and lasted until 1799. It marked the end of absolute monarchy in France and established democratic ideals that spread across the world. This revolution fundamentally transformed French society from a feudal system to a modern nation-state.
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Chapter 1: France Before the Revolution - The Old Regime (Ancien Régime)
The Three Estates System 👑
French society was rigidly divided into three estates, creating severe inequality:
First Estate - The Clergy
Comprised about 1% of the population (130,000 people)
Owned approximately 10% of all French land
Collected tithes from peasants
Exempt from most taxes
Enjoyed special privileges and courts
Second Estate - The Nobility
Made up about 2% of the population (400,000 people)
Owned 25% of French land
Held all high positions in government, army, and church
Exempt from most taxes
Lived luxurious lives at royal court
Third Estate - Everyone Else
Constituted 97% of the population (25 million people)
Included peasants (80%), bourgeoisie (middle class), and urban workers
Owned only 65% of land despite being the vast majority
Bore the entire burden of taxation
Had no political representation despite their numbers
The Burden of Inequality 💰
The Third Estate faced multiple hardships:
Heavy Taxation: Paid direct taxes (taille), indirect taxes, and feudal dues
Feudal Obligations: Peasants worked free for nobles and paid various feudal charges
Economic Hardship: Poor harvests led to bread shortages and rising prices
Social Restrictions: Could not hold high offices or marry into nobility
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Chapter 2: Causes of the French Revolution
Political Causes ⚔️
Absolute Monarchy: Louis XVI ruled with unlimited power, making all decisions without consultation
Inefficient Administration: No uniform system of laws; different regions had different rules
Financial Crisis: France was nearly bankrupt due to costly wars, especially involvement in American Revolution
Loss of Royal Credibility: King and Queen Marie Antoinette were seen as extravagant and out of touch
Social Causes
Rigid Class System: The Three Estates system created resentment and inequality
Rise of Bourgeoisie: Educated middle class demanded political rights matching their economic importance
Peasant Discontent: Rural population suffered under feudal obligations and heavy taxation
Economic Causes 📊
National Debt: France spent 50% of its budget on debt interest
Tax System: Inefficient and unfair tax collection
Trade Restrictions: Internal customs barriers hindered commerce
Agricultural Crisis: Bad harvests in 1788 led to food shortages
Intellectual Causes 📖
Enlightenment Ideas: Philosophers challenged traditional authority
Voltaire: Advocated religious tolerance and criticized Catholic Church
Rousseau: Promoted popular sovereignty in "The Social Contract"
Montesquieu: Proposed separation of powers to prevent tyranny
American Revolution: Inspired French people with ideas of liberty and democracy
Growth of Public Opinion: Coffee houses and salons spread new political ideas
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Chapter 3: The Revolution Begins (1789)
The Financial Crisis Deepens
By 1789, France faced bankruptcy. Finance Minister Jacques Necker advised King Louis XVI to tax the privileged classes, but they refused.
Calling of the Estates-General ⚡
May 5, 1789: First meeting since 1614
The Voting Issue: Each estate traditionally had one vote, meaning First and Second Estates could always outvote the Third
Third Estate's Demand: Wanted voting by head count, not by estate
Formation of National Assembly
June 17, 1789: Third Estate declared itself the "National Assembly"
June 20, 1789: Tennis Court Oath - Members vowed not to disband until France had a new constitution
June 27, 1789: King ordered First and Second Estates to join National Assembly
The Storming of the Bastille 🏰
July 14, 1789: Parisian mob stormed the Bastille fortress
Significance:
Symbol of royal tyranny destroyed
People obtained weapons and gunpowder
Marked the beginning of popular revolution
July 14 became France's national day
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Chapter 4: The Moderate Phase (1789-1792)
Immediate Reforms
August 4, 1789: Night of August 4th - Nobles voluntarily gave up feudal privileges
August 26, 1789: Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen adopted
Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen 📜
This historic document established fundamental principles:
Natural Rights: "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights"
Liberty: Freedom of speech, press, and religion
Property: Right to own property
Security: Protection from arbitrary arrest
Resistance to Oppression: Right to resist tyranny
Popular Sovereignty: Authority comes from the people
Constitutional Changes
1791 Constitution: Established constitutional monarchy
Separation of Powers: Legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Limited Monarchy: King's power restricted by constitution
Active vs Passive Citizens: Only property-owning men could vote
Religious Reforms
Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790):
Made clergy civil servants paid by state
Bishops and priests to be elected
Church property nationalized
Papal authority rejected in France
Growing Opposition
Émigrés: Many nobles fled France, plotting counter-revolution
Religious Opposition: Many Catholics opposed church reforms
Royal Resistance: King and queen secretly opposed changes
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Chapter 5: The Radical Phase (1792-1794)
War and Republic ⚔️
April 1792: France declared war on Austria and Prussia
August 10, 1792: Royal palace attacked; monarchy suspended
September 1792: France declared a republic
January 21, 1793: King Louis XVI executed by guillotine
Political Groups
Jacobins: Radical republicans led by Robespierre
Girondins: Moderate republicans
Sans-culottes: Urban working class, wanted more radical reforms
The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) 😨
Led by Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety:
Characteristics:
Revolutionary Tribunal: Special court to try "enemies of revolution"
Law of Suspects: Anyone could be arrested on mere suspicion
Mass Executions: About 17,000 people executed by guillotine
Revolutionary Calendar: New calendar adopted to break with Christianity
Cult of Supreme Being: Robespierre's attempt to create new religion
Victims:
1)Queen Marie Antoinette (October 16, 1793)
2)Girondin leaders
3)Eventually moderate revolutionaries
4)Finally Robespierre himself (July 28, 1794)
End of Terror
1)Public grew tired of constant executions
2)Economic problems continued
3)Fear that anyone could be next victim
4)Robespierre's enemies united against him
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Chapter 6: The Thermidorian Reaction and Directory (1794-1799)
The Thermidorian Reaction (1794-1795) 🏛️
1)Named after Thermidor month when Robespierre was executed
2)Moderate phase returned
3)Many Terror policies reversed
4)Political prisoners released
The Directory (1795-1799)
Structure:
1)Five Directors: Executive power shared
2)Two Legislative Houses: Council of Five Hundred and Council of Ancients
3)Property Qualification: Only wealthy could vote
Problems:
1)Political instability and frequent changes
2)Economic difficulties and inflation
3)Corruption and inefficiency
4)Military defeats abroad
5)Threat from royalists and radicals
Napoleon's Rise
1799: Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in coup d'état
1)End of revolutionary period
2)Beginning of Napoleonic era
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Chapter 7: Revolutionary Wars and Their Impact
International Response
1)First Coalition (1792-1797): Austria, Prussia, Britain, Spain against France
2)Revolutionary Wars: France fought to defend revolution and spread its ideals
3)Impact: Revolution spread democratic ideas across Europe
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Chapter 8: Women and the French Revolution 👩
Women's Participation
1)Despite not having political rights, women played crucial roles:
2)Economic Actions:
3)Led bread riots due to food shortages
October Days (1789): 7,000 women marched to Versailles demanding bread and brought royal family to Paris
Political Involvement:
1)Formed political clubs like Society of Revolutionary Republican Women
2)Attended National Assembly sessions and influenced debates
3)Participated in revolutionary festivals and demonstrations
Key Female Figures:
Olympe de Gouges: Wrote "Declaration of Rights of Woman and Female Citizen" (1791)
1)Demanded equal rights for women
2)Executed during Terror for her political views
2)Charlotte Corday: Assassinated radical leader Marat
3)Madame Roland: Influenced Girondin policies
Revolutionary Changes for Women:
1)Marriage: Made a civil contract, divorce allowed
2)Education: Some improvement in women's education
3)Property Rights: Women could inherit property equally
4)Economic Freedom: Could engage in small business
Limitations:
1)No political rights (voting, holding office)
2)Declaration of Rights didn't include women
3)Traditional gender roles largely maintained
4)Many gains reversed under Napoleon
Women's Clubs and Organizations
1)Society of Revolutionary Republican Women: Most famous women's political club
2)Demanded: Political rights, economic equality, right to bear arms
3)Banned in 1793: Government feared women's political activism
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Chapter 9: The Triangular Trade and Colonial Impact 🌍
What Was the Triangular Trade?
The triangular trade was a system of trade routes between Europe, Africa, and the Americas that significantly impacted the French economy:
The Three Legs:
1. Europe to Africa: Manufactured goods (guns, cloth, rum) shipped to Africa
2. Africa to Americas: Enslaved Africans transported to Caribbean and American colonies
3. Americas to Europe: Sugar, tobacco, cotton, and coffee sent to Europe
French Involvement in Slave Trade
Major Ports: Nantes, Bordeaux, Le Havre became wealthy from slave trade
French Colonies: Saint-Domingue (Haiti), Martinique, Guadeloupe relied on slave labor
Economic Impact: Slave trade profits helped finance French economy
Colonial Wealth and Revolution
Pre-Revolution: Colonial wealth increased inequality as only merchants and nobles benefited
Revolutionary Impact:
Slave trade disrupted by wars
Colonial rebellions, especially in Saint-Domingue
Economic losses added to France's financial crisis
The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)
Inspired by French Revolution: Enslaved people in Saint-Domingue demanded freedom
Led by Toussaint Louverture: Former slave became revolutionary leader
Impact on France:
Lost most profitable colony
Economic blow to French merchants
Challenged revolutionary ideals about equality
Abolition During Revolution
1794: National Convention abolished slavery in all French colonies
Reasons:
Revolutionary ideals of equality
Military necessity (need colonial support against enemies)
Pressure from slave rebellions
1802: Napoleon reinstated slavery (abolished permanently in 1848)
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Chapter 10: Legacy and Impact of the French Revolution
Immediate Impact in France 🇫🇷
Political: End of absolute monarchy, establishment of republic
Social: Abolition of feudalism, equality before law
Religious: Reduced power of Catholic Church
Economic: Free trade, decimal system, uniform weights and measures
Global Impact 🌍
Spread of Nationalism: Inspired nationalist movements worldwide
Democratic Ideals: Liberty, equality, fraternity became universal concepts
End of Old Regime: Accelerated decline of absolute monarchies
Modern Political Concepts: Constitutionalism, popular sovereignty, individual rights
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Important Terms and Concepts 📝
Ancien Régime: Old political and social system before 1789
Assignats: Paper money backed by confiscated church lands
Bourgeoisie: Middle class merchants and professionals
Émigrés: Nobles who fled France during revolution
Jacobins: Radical political club
Girondins: Moderate republican group
Sans-culottes: Urban working class revolutionaries
Taille: Direct tax paid by Third Estate
Tithe: Tax paid to church (10% of income)
Feudalism: System where peasants served nobles in exchange for protection
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Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) ❓
1. The French Revolution began in which year?
a) 1787 b) 1789 c) 1791 d) 1793
2. What percentage of France's population belonged to the Third Estate?
a) 95% b) 96% c) 97% d) 98%
3. The Tennis Court Oath was taken on:
a) June 17, 1789 b) June 20, 1789 c) July 14, 1789 d) August 4, 1789
4. The Bastille was stormed on:
a) July 14, 1789 b) July 15, 1789 c) August 4, 1789 d) August 26, 1789
5. Who wrote 'The Social Contract'?
a) Voltaire b) Montesquieu c) Rousseau d) Diderot
6. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen was adopted in:
a) July 1789 b) August 1789 c) September 1789 d) October 1789
7. The Reign of Terror lasted from:
a) 1792-1794 b) 1793-1794 c) 1793-1795 d) 1794-1795
8. Who was known as the 'Incorruptible'?
a) Danton b) Marat c) Robespierre d) Mirabeau
9. The Directory was established in:
a) 1794 b) 1795 c) 1796 d) 1797
10. Louis XVI was executed on:
a) January 20, 1793 b) January 21, 1793 c) January 22, 1793 d) January 23, 1793
11. Who wrote the 'Declaration of Rights of Woman and Female Citizen'?
a) Charlotte Corday b) Olympe de Gouges c) Madame Roland d) Marie Antoinette
12. Which estate paid the most taxes?
a) First Estate b) Second Estate c) Third Estate d) All paid equally
13. The triangular trade involved which three regions?
a) Europe-Asia-Africa b) Europe-Africa-Americas c) Asia-Africa-Americas d) Europe-Americas-Asia
14. Napoleon came to power in:
a) 1798 b) 1799 c) 1800 d) 1801
15. The slogan of French Revolution was:
a) Liberty, Equality, Democracy b) Freedom, Justice, Brotherhood c) Liberty, Equality, Fraternity d) Rights, Freedom, Justice
16. Saint-Domingue was the former name of:
a) Jamaica b) Cuba c) Haiti d) Puerto Rico
17. Marie Antoinette was executed in:
a) October 1793 b) November 1793 c) December 1793 d) January 1794
18. The Estates-General was convened after:
a) 174 years b) 175 years c) 176 years d) 177 years
19. Which port was NOT a major center of French slave trade?
a) Nantes b) Bordeaux c) Le Havre d) Marseille
20. When was slavery first abolished in French colonies?
a) 1793 b) 1794 c) 1795 d) 1796
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Short Questions (3 marks, 4–5 lines each)
1. Explain the Three Estates system in France before the Revolution.
2. What were the main economic causes of the French Revolution?
3. Describe the Tennis Court Oath and its significance.
4. What reforms were made during the Night of August 4, 1789?
5. What were the main features of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen?
6. How did the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) change the role of the Church?
7. Who were the Jacobins, Girondins, and Sans-culottes?
8. Describe the Reign of Terror and its main characteristics.
9. What was the Triangular Trade and how did France benefit from it?
10. How did women participate in the French Revolution?
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Part C: Long Questions (8–9 lines, 5 marks each)
1. Discuss the political, social, and economic causes of the French Revolution.
2. Explain the financial crisis in France before the Revolution and how it affected the Third Estate.
3. Describe the events leading to the formation of the National Assembly.
4. Explain the storming of the Bastille and why it was a turning point in the Revolution.
5. Describe the major reforms and features of the 1791 Constitution.
6. Discuss the execution of Louis XVI and its impact on France.
7. Explain the role of Robespierre in the Reign of Terror.
8. Describe the Thermidorian Reaction and how it ended the radical phase of the Revolution.
9. Explain the structure, powers, and problems of the Directory (1795–1799).
10. How did the French Revolution inspire revolutions in other countries?
11. Describe the involvement of French women in economic and political activities during the Revolution.
12. Explain the Haitian Revolution and its impact on France.
13. How did the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen promote equality and liberty?
14. Discuss the significance of Napoleon’s rise to power in 1799.
15. Explain the global impact of the French Revolution, including political, social, and economic changes.
