THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

INTRODUCTION

as a great landmark not only in the History

of France but also
The French Revolution is regarded
called it a 'World Revolution', It was as mucha war of bayonets as that
of Europe. Ramsay Muir shook the old
the ideas of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. It
of ideas. It gave to humanity
traditions and institutions.

unlimited
There despotic rule in France in the Rights of the King. He enjoyed
w a s law. He could
was

18th century. The nobles and the clergy powers and rights. His will He could
led a happy appoint o r dismiss any person. inflict
enjoyed special privileges. They He could any
was very unhappy. impose any tax, he liked.
life but the general public into prison
The result w a s the outbreak of
a revolution in punishment and throw anybody
for his
rule was without any trial. He used his powers
France in 1789 A.D. Arbitrary did not do anything for
form of government. o w n selfish ends and
replaced by a democratic the welfare of the people. He
used to say, "The
ideas and resulted
It gave birth to n e w political rested in my person, the
the

in the reconstruction of society.

The king, the sovereign power is
alone. My people
thousands of their followers, legislative power exists in myself
queen and the murdered. It are one only with me;
national rights and national
nobles and clergymen w e r e combined with my own and
Thousands of interests are necessarily
created a great stir in Europe.
towns w e r e destroyed and lacs
of persons w e r e only rest in my hands.
started in France
killed. This movement, which
the French
in 1789 A.D., is known
as

Revolution.

REVOLUTION
CAUSES OF THE FRENCH

There were many causes responsible for the

French Revolution. Some of them are as

follows:

1. Political Causes
Louis XVI. The
(i) Arbitrary Rule of centralized
Government of France w a s a highly
a n arbitrary
ruler of
monarchy. Louis XVI w a s
of Divine Louis XVVI
France. He believed in the Theory
3
Unit I: History
Chapter 1:THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
and to express the public opinion. In the
absence of such a body the king could notjudge Doou Kno
the temper and views of the people What was the Third Estate
properly.
There was, no doubt, an institution called the
In 1789 at the time of outbreak of the
Estates General but it had not been summoned French
since 1614 A.D.
Revolution, the French society was divided into the
privileged and the unprivlleged classesThe
2. Social Causes unprivileged classes were known as the Third
Estate The Third Estate was comprised of
The French Revolution was as much due to the
peasants, artisans, clity workers and the middle
the political causes as it was due to the social class people (or the bourgeoisle) like teachers
causes. There was social inequality in France. doctors, lawyers, wrlters, aivl servants etc. All such
The society in France consisted of three classes people had no political rights. It were these people
who fought against
called Estates t h e nobles, the clergy and the the privileged classes in the
commons. The first two classes enjoyed special French Revolution.
privileges and led a happy life. They formed
10% of the whole population but owned 40% of (ii) The Commons. They were called as the
Third Estate. They
the national wealth. They paid no taxes. The were
comprised
peasants in villages, workers in cities and the
of the
third class was the unprivileged class. The
people belonging to this class were being people belonging to middle class such as
crushed under the heavy burden of taxation gOvernment servants, lawyers, teachers,
and as such they led a miserable life. doctors, writers, artists, traders and indus-
() The Clergy. The church formed a state trialists. The middle class had both the wealth
within the state. It had great influence on the and the intellect. It were they, who later on
people. One-fifth of the land was the property proved to be the leaders of the Revolution.
of the church. It derived large income from The condition of the workers and
peasants
tithes, religious courts, gifts etc. The higher was a deplorable one. They had to pay various
clergy held high offices in the church but they taxes. The labourers had to work hard but they
did not care a bit for their spiritual duties. They earned very little. The peasants were also not
led a luxurious life and were corrupt and well off.
immoral. The lower clergy performed spiritual
duties but they were poorly paid. They led a
Wretched life and were quite discontented.
They hated the higher clergy for their
enormous wealth and gay life. So they also
joined the revolutionaries.
(ii) The Nobles. The nobles also enjoyed
special rights and privileges. They had large
estates and castles. They owned 1/4th of the
land of France but they were free from all the
taxes. They held all the important posts in the
army and the church. They were not required
to perform any service to the state. They could
levy taxes on the peasants living on their
estates and enjoyed hunting, shooting and
fishing rights. Their cattle and pets grazed A French Cartoon of 1789 portrays the common
spoiled the crops but the peasants could not man in chains carrying the Nobles and the
Clergy on his back.
lodge any complaint against them.
 SOCIAL SCIENCE CLASS IX
A TEXTBOOK OF
various taxes to the class but he faile to do
had to pay so du
They and to the church. interests. As such the to
government;
to the nobles
had France went from bad to worse
financial condition
vestedof
to forced labour. They and
w e r e subjected t
They land of the nobles three great discontentment mong the
to work
days
free o n the
a week. Their crops were trampled by the people Teated
( ) Defective System of Taxation. The sue
About 81% of of taxation in France was
of the nobles.
hunting parties
their income
went to the state,
to the nobles and nobles and the efective."stem
highly defec
higher clergy owned 40 The
could hardly keep their of the national wealth but per
to the church. They they didd no
not
the rest of 19% of
and soul together with single penny to the state treasury pay a
body e v e n to live
Sometimes, they had burden of taxation fell on the common the
their income.
thousands of them died
on grass
and roots and
circumstances the
The rich, who could support the
state, paid
people
Thus forced by least; while the poor werelbeing crushed
of starvation.
their loins to eradicate
commons girded up the heavy weight of taxation. The system.un
"The f the
rule. Napoleon used to say,
such a corrupt
mass n o v e m e n t of
collection of taxes was also full of defects,
Frcnch Revolution
v a s a general
taxes were not collected by the governm The
the privileged classes."
the nation against officials. The government sold the right o
3. Economic Causes tax-collection to private individuals called
The economic condition of France towards Farmers'. These 'Farmers' extracted as much as
was a very critical one. possible from the people and committed
the end of 18th century unlimited atrocities on them. Thus the
factor greatly hastened the
This economic defective system of tax collection and its
Revolution.
oppressiveness proved one of the most
(1) Heary National Debt. The French
under debt. The state
importarnt causes of Revolution.
government washeavily
treasury was quite empty. A large portion of 4. Psychological Causes
national income used to be spent by the king Certain psychological causes also led to the
luxurious life.
and his courtiers in leading
a
French Revolutiorn. They are as follows:
wars, and the
Louis XTV took part in many
result of that that the national debt
was
( French Philosophers. France had
the
increased beyond limit. Much against degenerated politically, socially and
in the
wishes of his father Louis XV took part economically. The French philosophers
War of Austrian Succession and
Seven Years
awakened the people from their deep slumber.
War. But such a brought the countryr on
policy on
Theyra attacked the church, the and the
crown
the brink of bankruptcy: Half of the national old
interest
old traditions. They exposed the oppression of
income was spent in paying the on
the arbitrary rulers, attacked the speial
debt. Louis XVI squandered the
national
privileges of the nobles and of the clergy.They
national wealth on maladministration, on revolutionised the minds of the people
and
courtiers and in taking part in the War of the corrupt
encouraged them to revolt against
American Independence. The financial crisis
regime and social inequality.
deepened further. Turgot and Necker tried to famous lawyer
improve the financial condition of France by (a) Montesquieu. He was a writer and
certain reforms but the king and a judge. He was an independent
introducing the
opposed them as he was at that time under the thinker. He was greatly impressed by
institutions and
influence of his queen and courtiers and English Constitution, their free in the
believed
consequently, he dismissed them. their social set-up. He
of
The national debt rose to eight crore constitutional monarchy and supremacy
individual
dollars. Louis XVI wanted to tax the privileged law. He was the strong supporter of

6
Unit I:Hislory Chapter 1:THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

Jiberty. He put his political theories in his book

sovereignty of the people. He said, "The people
entitled 'Spirit of Laws'. He criticized the ancient are the real
and shook its very roots.
sovereign and the king rules only by
administrative system their consent". He wanted to eradicate old
social
He believed in
the theory of separation of and political institutions and believed in new
powers. He
advocated that the legislative, social set up based on
equality and justice. His
executive and the judicial powers of the state revolutionary ideas paved the way for the
from one another. If any two revolution and encouraged the people to revolt
must be separated
combined together, there will be against the established monarchy. Even
powers are
rule and the people will not be able Napoleon had all praise for him. According to
tyrannical him, "But for Rousseau there would have been no
to enjoy any
individual liberty.
French Revolution".
Voltaire was another great
(b) Voltaire. (d) Diderot. Diderot was a renowned
philosopher and intellectual giant of this age. writer, philosopher and preacher of the 18th
was a versatile writer.
He attacked the
He
church and the crown. He exposed the tyranny century. He wrote his famous book,
church and the 'Encyclopaedia' in 1792 A.D. In this voluminous
of arbitrary kings, abuses of the
work he criticized the despotic rule, the special
social inequalities. He was in favour of
individual liberty and lashed at traditions, privileges of high order, unjust laws, social
beliefs and religious fanaticism. He used to say, inequalities and the miserable life of the lower
"Worslhip God and be a good man." His class. He was the supporter of the people's
writings awakened the people of France. Republic, equality and efficient administration.
(c) Rousseau. He was the most eminent In short, the above philosophers roused the
writer and philosopher of that time. His people from their deep slumber and instilled in
political ideas are found in his famous book them feeling of liberty, equality and fraternity.
Social Contract'. He used to say, "Man is born It created revolutionary spirit and provoked
free yet everywhere he is in chains." He preached them to root out social inequalities and set upa
democratic ideas and was in favour of the constitutional form of government. In the
words of Prof. Mukerjee, "Their writings
exposed the evils of old regime and aroused the
passion of the people by instilling into them the new
ideas and doctrines and prepared their minds for a
revolutionary change."
(i) Influence of the American War of
Independence. In order to avenge their defeat in
the Seven Years' War, France helped the people
of the American colonies against England. It
was much because of their help that the
Americans got freedom from England. But
these French soldiers who helped the
Americans to win their freedom were
themselves greatly influenced by the ideas of
liberty, equality and fraternity of the colonists,
and when they came to their own country they
preached these ideas among the people of their
own country and prepared them .for the
revolution. They brought home to the people of
France that it was quite difficult to put an end
Rousseau
 SCIENCE -CLASS IX
A TEXTBOOK OFSOCIAL

rule and privileges

of high order resisted this demand. The
Third Estato
to despotic methods. momentous cision and te took a
without adopting
the revolutionary
says, "The
Webster
War of the National Assembly declared
June 17, itself
on to be
In this
connection
to the
pener to By this they claimed the right to 178g
speak andA.D
became a n eye opener
American Independence leaders to
and in particular gave for the whole nation. This was revolutionma
nations ofEurope its very nature.
the French Revolution". yin
Tennis-Court Oath. Under the
2.
influence and pressure of the high the undue
5. Immediate Cause

The weak
finances of France was the
king tried to order
oppose the proceedings
Revolution. Luxurious
immediate cause ot the
x
courtiers and the costly
Third Estate and
posted
German and Si
life of the king and his crisis. The national
soldiers in Paris and Versai
to wiss
wars resulted in financial them. He deposed Necker and later ppress
France was
at a rapid speed and on
debt increased
of bankruptcy. Thus
forced by
him. On June 20, 1789 the
members
of the exiled
on the verge
Estate tried to assemble in their chamberThir
Louis XVI called the
Council of
circumstances
citizens and placed before
they were checked by the king's soldiers." but
the eminent French efore then assembled in the
them the resolution of
the privileged
taxing
members of the Council w e r e
Tennis-Court to hold their session. neighbouring
neighbourine
They took
class. Most of the an oath there, which is known
this and decided that only the
proposal as the
against taxes.
Tennis-Court Oath. They took an oath to
not
Estates General could impose new
separate till the constitution of the
kingdom is
Financial crisis compelled the king
to summon

which had not

prepared.
the Estates General in 1789 A.D.
an assembly of the 3. The Royal Session, June 23, 1789
met since 1614 A.D. It w a s A.D.
three Estates, the nobles, the clergy and the The Royal Session was, however, held on June
commoners. The summoning of the Estates 23, 1789 A.D. In this session the king declared
about the Revolution and the acts of Third Estate as illegal and
General brought ordered
commoners whose strength in the newly that meeting of the Three Estates should be
constituted Estates General was great, became held separately as usual. Consequently, the
the torch-bearers of the Revolution. master of the ceremonies ordered the members
of the Third Estate to clear the chamber. At this
one of their representatives named Mirabeau
COURSE OF THE REVOLUTION
said, "Go and tell your master that we are here by
1. Meeting of the Estates General. The king the will of the people and that we shall not go except
summoned the Estates General on May 5, 1789 at the point of bayonet." Forced by circumstances
A.D. aftera lapse of 175 years. It was composed the king ordered the Three Estates to meet
of the representatives of three orders, the together as the National Assembly. It was the
clergy, the nobles and the commons. Each first victory of the Commoners.
order met separately and its decision was taken 4. Fall of Bastille. Under the forceof
as one joint vote. The result was that the clergy circumstances, the king recognized the
and the nobles had the
king
upper hand and National Assembly but he wanted to crush it by
decided all the matters as they liked. At the force. He posted foreign troops for the
time of its meeting in 1789 A.D. the Estates protection of Paris and Versailles and
General consisted of 1200 delegates; of these, dismissed his popular Minister Necker. But
the Commons had 600 representatives. They this action of Louis XVI led to haos and
demanded that the three orders were to meet as
anarchy and infuriated the people. The mob
a
single chamber in which each individual Tail
assembled in Paris and stormed the Bastille Jail
should have a vote.The
clergy
and the nobles on July 14, 1789 A.D. This Jail was a symbol
ot
8
 Unit I: History
Chapter 1 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
king's despotism and tyranny. The mob razed "Bread March." They
the fort-like-Jail to the ground and freed the besieged the palace of
Versailles and forced the
prisoners. The fall of Bastille was in a way, the
king and the queen to
accompany them to Paris. They said, "We have
fall of the monarchy. t was hailed as a great baker and the baker's
victory of liberty.
wife and the little cook boy,
now we shall have bread."
The king now began to
The peasants also rose against the feudal live in the Palace of
Juileries in Paris. The
lords. They took to loot and arson. They began members of the National
Assembly also moved
to Paris. The fall of Bastille
to destroy their forts. Many feudal lords and gave a severe blow
to the king's
nobles were put to death. Many of them fled to despotic powers and the social
their lives on 5th October, inequalities. It marked the end of royal
foreign lands to save
1789 A.D. A large number of suffering women despotism in France. It completed the transfer
towards Versailles of political authority to the national
marched raising the legislature
This incident is known as and paved the way for the fall of feudalism.
slogan, "Bread, Bread".

July 14. a day of Rebellion in France

5. Work of the National Assembly. serfdom. The nobles were deprived of their
(1789-1791 A.D.) The National Assembly rights of hunting, fishing and collecting taxes.
worked from 1789-1791 A.D. and did Forced labour was forbidden. Serfs were set
commendable works. free and were exempted from all taxes. The
burden of taxation was to be borne by all
() Abolition of the Rights of the Privileged according to their income. Rates of land-tax
Class. On 4th August, 1789 A.D. the National were fixed by the National Assembly. Every
Assembly put an end to the rights of the citizen was given the right to hold any civil or
priviliged class and abolished feudalism and military post without any distinction.
 SCIENCE -
CLASSIx
SOCIAL
TEXTBOOK OF
A
nationalised.
Its property
was
Add To Your Knowledge
Church was
was also
number of clergy
confiscated.The
ofits right of Women's Participation in the
was deprived
reduced. The clergy special
French
French Revolution
short all the
ithes. In
realizing ended and the
were
declared as From the beginning of the French Revolutice
and the church
privileges was
women (of France) tooka active part in
of the nobility the events
superiority that brought the revole in
France
raised to the
ground. They hoped
the revolutionary government would take stepst
Declaration of Man. The
of Rights Man improve their life. In addition to their home
(i) and the
of
dutiee
of the Rights like cooking the food for their families and
Declaration
of the looking
second important work after the children, they, especially women of
was the
Citizen Assembly. It declared many rights of
National Third Estate, sometimes worked as maid servants the
citizens: and sometimes they sold fruits, flowers
man and the and
vegetables in the market to augment the
famit
nmen are born
free and have equal income. These established
women their sepatata
(a) All
clubs and asked for same political rights as enjoyed
rights by men. They demanded the right to vote, to be
are equal in the eyes of
(b) All persons elected to the Assembly and hold high offices
law
In the early years, the revolutionary government
() All persons liberty to do,
have the
did introduce laws that greatly improved the lot of
whatever they like provided they
do not
women. Education was made compulsory for
injure other people; them. But during the Reign of Terror (1793-94), the
right to express new government issued laws closing the women's
(d) All persons have the
clubs and banning their political rights. Many of
theirviewS eminent women like Olympe de Gouges were
Law is the expression of the will of the
(e) arrested and executed.
people, The women of France continued their fight for
No shall be accused, arrested or
one political rights in the next two centuries and
penalised till the charge against him is ultimately they got the right to vote in 1946.
proved;
(g) All the itizens will enjoy religious (ii) The New Constitution of 1791. The
freedom; National Assembly then assumed the name of
Ch) All officials of the state are responsible
the Constituent Assembly and framed a new
to the people; constitution for France in 1791 A.D. It adopted
(i)The people can corntrol the finances of. a constitutional or limited monarchy. The king
was still the head of executive but his rights
the state through their representatives,
and powers were limited and he became the
etc.
constitutional head of the state. The king had
This declaration is a great landmark not the right to appoint and dismiss his ministers
only in the History of France but also of the but they were not to sit in the Legislative
world. According to Dr. J.E. Swain, "The entire Assembly. He was given power of suspensive to
world acclaimed it as a by which he could only postpone temporarily
forvictory democracy."
It the execution of the Acts of the legislature.
swept away the principles of the old regime
and laid the foundation of the political and
The Legislative pouwers were vested in the
social order and the ideals of Legislative Assembly consisting of 7452
and fraternity. liberty, equality members to be chosen by indirect election for
years
10
 Unit I: FHistory
Chapter 1: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
All judgcs were to be elected and their term declared a war
varied from 2 to 4 years. The Jury system was
A.D. with the
against France on April 20, 1792
introduced in criminal cases. The penal code help of Prussia and other
countries.
did not remain so severe now.
9. The
National Convention (1792-1795
The Administrative System was reorganised A.D.). The French
and uniform system was set up all over the army was defeated in
Netherlands. The revolutionaries held Louis
country. The administrative machinery was XVI responsible for it. The mob attacked the
divided into 83 departments. Many financial king's palace on August 10, 1792 A.D. under
reforms were introduced to tackle the the leadership of Danton. The
mob captured
economic and financial problems. The the palace and looted it
mercilessly. They
administration of the church was completely imprisoned the King along with his family.
Later
reorganised by the 'Cioil Constitution of the on, he suspended and forbidden to
was

Clergy perform any administrative functions. The real

power came into the hands of the Jacobin Club
After completing the work of framing the
and its leader Danton, till the session of the
new constitution, the National Assembly
National Convention in 1792 A.D.
dissolved itself on September 30, 1791 A.D. and
debarred its members firom taking part in Legislative The National Convention was the third
revolutionary Assembly of France and it
Assembly. worked from September 21, 1792 to October 26,
6. King's Attempt to Flee. Mirabeau died 1795 A.D. The French army inflicted a
on April 2, 1791 A.D. He was the most
crushing
defeat on the enemy on 20th September, 1792
prominent leader of the National Assembly. He A.D. The National Convention deposed the
belonged to the high order and was the king, put an end to monarchy and established
supporter of the monarchy. After his death, the Republicin France on September 22, 1792 A.D.
king felt helpless and thought of fleeing to
Germany. He tried to flee away from France
with his queen and children on June 20, 1791
Do ow Krpow
A.D. but he was caught and brought back to The Abolition of Slavery
Paris. The National Convention in 1794 tried to free all
7. The Legislative Assembly. (1791-1792 Slaves in France as well as in the French colonies.
A.D.) Election of the members of the But this action of theirs proved short-lived because
Legislative Assembly took place in France Napoleon once again introduced it in order to
protect the interests of the French plantation
according framed by the
to the Constitution
owners who could not survive without the slave
National Assembly and its first session was
held on October 1, 1791 A.D. The Girondists
help. It was, however, in 1848 that slavery was
finally abolished in the French colonies.
and the Jacobins were the two chief parties in it
and both opposed the monarch.
8. War with Austria (1792 A.D.). The 10. Execution of Louis XVI, 21st January,
revolutionaries of France instigated the people 1793 A.D. The Girondists did not want to
of other countries to revolt against monarchy execute the king without trial, they wanted to
and set up a republican form of government. leave this matter to the people. On the other
hand, the Jacobins favoured the execution of
They also assured them of their solid help. The
the king without trial. As the Jacobins had
king of Austria, Leopold II, brother of Queen
Marie Antoinette wanted to check the influence in the Convention, the king was

propagation of revolutionary ideas and help charged of treason atter a nominal trial and was
Louis XVI against the revolutionaries. So he executed on January 21, 1793 A.D. His last
 CLASS IX
OF SOCIAL SCIENCE -
A TEXTBOOK

ann innocent of that, of 12. Directory, 1795-1799 A.D. The Nation

words were,
"Gentlemen, I
the Convention framed a new National
blood
republican
assure
accused. May my
which I am
also constitution for France. According
France." His Queen was to the
new
n
happiness of 1793 A.D. constitution the executive
authority of the sta
October 16,
hanged on was vested in a committee of five Directors
was known as 'Directory. The new constitutiwt
was introduced in 1795 A.D. and the Director
worked upto November 19, 1799 A.D. The
Directory, however, failed to solve the
problems of the country and improve ita
Conditions because the Directors were
selfish
and inexperienced persons. The Directaru
became very unpopular because of its
inefficiency and corruption. It was torn by
mutual jealousies. The administration had

Execution of Loui's XVI become very loose and lives of the people had
become very miserable.
1793-94 A.D.
11.Reign of Terror in France, 13. The Last Phase, 1799 to 1815 A.D
from all sides.
France was engulfed by dangers Napoleon overthrew the Directory in 1799 A.D.
and Holland
England, Austria, Prussia, Spain the French and established a Consulate in France. The
formed the first coalition against executive power was vested in Three Consuls
Carnot as
Republic. The Jacobins appointed and one of them acted as the First Consul
War Minister. He was very capable and
Napoleon became the First Consul. He enjoyed
experienced person. Emergency was declared unlimited powers and was virtually the
in France. It was made compulsory for every
dictator of France. In 1804 A.D. Napoleon,
between the age of 18 to 25 tob
young m a n however, became the Emperor of France and
render military service. By this method
he
he ruled as an emperor from 1804 to 1814 A.D.
raised an army of 7,70,000 soldiers. By his He was defeated in the battle of Leipzig in 1814
effective plans of campaign and w a r policy he
A.D. and exiled to the Island of Elba. He
turned the defeat of France into victory. Carnot
was righthy called the 'Organiser of Victory." escaped from the Jail and reached France. He
ruled France again for a period of 100 days. He
A Committee of Public Safety w a s organised was finally defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in
to deal with the enemies of the state. The 1815 A.D. and imprisoned in the Island of St.
supreme executive authority of
the state was
Helena. With his imprisonment in 1815 A.D.,
vested with it. Carnot and Robespierre were
the French Revolution which began in 1789
the members of this committee. It followed
also
the policy of 'Blood and Iron'. Reign of terror A.D. also came to an end.
was let loose in France and it continued for
about one year (1793-94). About 5,000 persons
were butchered in Paris alone. About 15,000
LEGACY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
ons perished in the provinces. The Reign of
The French Revolution was one of the most
Terror became intolerable. The Paris mob
turned against cruel Robespierre and his significant events in the World History. It gave
to the world the three main ideals of liberty,
followers. Consequently, they were put to
achievements
death in 1794 A.D. With their execution the equality and fraternity. Its main
its chief political effects on the modem
Reign of Terror' ended in France and the or

people heaved a sigh of rèlief. world were as follows:

12
 Unit I:History Chapter 1: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

1. The French Revolution put an end to the administrative efficiency, he established peace
arbitrary rule and developed the idea of and order in the troubled land of France.
people's republic in Europe and
Napoleon was an important figure in the
subsequently in other parts of the history of the world and played an important
world. role in it. He was a versatile genius and a
2. It inspired the people throughout the marvellously gifted man. He was a man witha
world with the ideals of freedonm and strong physique, great physical power, sharp
liberty which subsequently formed the intellect, and strong memory. He was a
basis of the national sovereignty. civilized and cultured person and a 8reat
3. The French Revolution preached the writer and orator.

concept of equal rights for all the

citizens, which subsequently became the
concept of equality before law for al1
people.
4. It spread the idea of human fraternity
which is one of the chief attributes for
promoting the ideals of love, unity and
cooperation among the different
sections of the society.
5. The French Revolution gave the term
Nation' its modern meaning and
promoted the concept of 'nationalist
which inspired the people in Poland,
Germany, Netherlands and Italy to
establish Nation-States in their Napoleon Bonaparte
countries.
He was not only a great conqueror but also
6. The French Revolution had a great an able administrator, organiser and a great
salutary effect on the ruling monarchs statesman. He tendered useful service to the
who took several measures to ensure
people's welfare by introducing many people of France who had suffered at the hands
of the revolution. He established a stable and
reforms.
orderly government and ensured political
order in France. He regenerated France on the
RISE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF NAPOLEON basis of the principle of equality. He set upa
classless society by abolishing feudalism and
Napoleon was born in 1769 A.D. in Ajacio,
serfdom. He followed the policy of religious
the capital of Corsica, a small island in the
toleration and granted religious freedom to all.
Mediterranean Sea. He was a man of
He introduced many useful reforms. He
miraculous talents. He was educated in the
established a national system of education to
Military Schools of Brienne and Paris. He promote nationalism. He carried out many
joined the army and, by dint of his exemplary
economic reforms to improve the finances of
heroism, immense courage and ability, he
became the Commander of the French Army. the country. He systematized the laws of the
He defeated Britain in 1793 A.D., Sardinia in land and established a uniform system of law
1796 A.D. and Austria in 1796 A.D. Soon after in the country. His code was very simple and
clear. His administrative system was so
he became the First-Council of the Directory.
After few years, in 1804 A.D. he assumed the efficient and useful that his succesSors
title of the Emperor of France. By his ability and followed it for a very long time.

13
 SCIENCE CLASS IX
A TEXTBOOK OFSOCIAL

(iv) 1792- 93. The

sOME IMPORTANT DATES
king
executed on
anuary 21, 1793was
(i)
throne of
1774. In this year
Louis XVI ascended the
France. He believed
in the Divine
such he had little
found conspiring with bec deposed and
especially with Austria becausether1 usecountries
he w
and as
Right Theory Kings of freedom and liberty.
of
Antoinette was the daughte his
respect for
the concept the Empress of Austria. It of wite Marie
wasiMa
793aTherwhenesa,a
so he began to impose
His treasury was empty Reign of Terror was
which made him quite unpopular let loose in
heavy taxes about 5,000 persons were
ance and
alon France was declared: abutchere
among his
own people. alone,
(i) 1789. In this year, the French Revolution
end of theKing. Republicain Pars
stormed the Bastille Jail.
started and the people
w a s called after a
(v) 1804. In this year, Napoleon the
The Estates General (which Emperor of France. He launched the
lapse of 175 years)
refused to sanction the levyy
conquests and within few
ecame the
of heavy taxes.
the whole of he
Europe, except Englan
career o
years, conqu
1791. The Third Estate, which assumed
(ii) reached the acme of his ng nd
the name of the National Assembly,
framed a power. and
new Constitution for
France in 1791. It limited (vi) 1815. In this
year,
the powers of the ruler, abolished the rights of
defeated in the battle of
his fate for ever. He was
Waterloo poleon
which s
the privileged classes and issued a declaration exiled
where he died a few years later in
to St.
He
sealed
of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. 1821,

Terms
Term Meaning/Definition
1. Concentration Camps Special areas where hostile people were kept to be tried and
executed
2. Fraternity The spirit of brotherhood as was envisaged
by the French Revolution
3. Clergy People who are engaged in a church to
perform various religious
rites/duties.
4. Tithes A tax levied by the church which was
usually one-tenth of the
agricultural produce.
5. Taille A tax to be directly paid to the State.

6. Livres A unit of currency prevalent in France upto 1794.

7. Anonymous Any one whose name remains unknown.

8. Manor An estate
comprising Lord's lands and mansion.
9. Chateau A stately residence or castle of a king or his noblemen.
10. Convent Any building belonging to a religious community.
11.
Negroes A
derogatory term used for indigenous people of Africa.
12.
Emancipation Freedom of slaves /serfs from
bondage
14
Unif I: History

Chopter 1: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

(ZXERCISES

A: VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE

QUESTIONS (UPTo 30
1. Which Estate of the French
WORDS)
society paid all the taxes ?
2. Identify Louis XVI telling the part played by him in
the French
3. Who was Rousseau ? How his ideas Revolution.
bring about the French
4, Explain in 30 words the work of the National Revolution ?
Convention (1792-1795).
5. Explain in 30 words the work of the
Directory (1795-99).
B: SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (U PTO 60-80 WORDS)
6. Discuss the storming of the Bastille.
7. Shed some light on the life of the
of the French Revolution.
Clergy (or the First Estate) and the
the eve
Nobility (or the Second Estate) on
8. How was the
peasantry impoverished in France
9. What is the
importance of the Declaration of the Rights of Man ?

C: LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (UPTO 100-120 WORDs)

10. Give estimate of the work of the National
an
Assemblies (1789-1791).
11. Describe the ircumstances
leading to outbreak of revolutionary protest in France in 1789.
12. Give an estimate of the work and
achievements of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Project Work/Activity
1. Collect photographs of the great French Philosophers like Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire
and write a brief essay about each of
the

Guidelines to the Solution of NCERT

Questions
1 Describe the circumstances leading to völutionary protest in France.
Guidelines. On the eve of the French Revolution iln1789 AD.France presenteda dismal look.
Following were the conditions on the eve of the French Revolution. Inother words, we can say
that following were the chief causes of the French Revolution
) Social Causes or Social Conditions On the evc of the revolution, the French society was
ridden with several inequalities. The clergy and the nobles led a
life of luxury and enjoyed
numerous privileges. On the other hand the peasants and workers lived a wretched ife. They
groaned under heavy taxes and forced labour middle class comprising of lawyers, doctors

15
 SCIENCE-CLASS
IX
SOCIAL
TEXTBOOK OF
A i
of the elere
hands
suffered humiliation atthe e nobles
and teachers, etc. also Frerch Revolution, This stat
was the chief cause ofthe
socialinequality
Conditions. Empetor Louis
XVI of Fa
Political Causes or Political
squandered money on thef was an empty
and his queen, Marie Antonette, s livino
despot. He were often auctioned, so inefficiency Há
asteful festivities. The high posts department had its own laws Suprenmed
corrupt and each
whole administration was all aróund. The people were tired of
sencee
of any
uniform vstem there was confusion a such rotlen syste
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and
wanted a change. of
been on
Economic Causes or Econonic Conditions. France had invdlved in Wars
(in) by French KingiA
the
which had broken her economy. The luxurous lite le XVI and
ats
made the matter still worse.
The people groanedu nder heayy taxes. The system hi
queen had
faulty that only of the
a fraction taxes could be realized as the people were to
poor as so
to pay them
nobles and the clergy, who could pay, were completely exempted from al
reached
economy became
sothat the French Govemment had almost ached astate of bankrupte
bad

Thus the shattered economy

of France proved a major cause of the Revoltuti ruptcy
z) Immediate Cause. Forced by inancial bankruptcy,EmperorLouis XVIwas comnoll. to call
a meeting of the Estates General in 1789 A.D. atter a lapse of 175 years. It generat
excitement as the members of the Third Estate were determined to put forth their
nro h
.But
when the first two Estates i.e, the Clergy and the Nobility refused to have acommon meeting
ith
the Third Estate, the people lost their temper They hadareadyisuffered much in theSeve
famine in 1788-89. In this way, the calling of the Estates General in 1789 A.D. proved t he
immediate cause of the French Revolution.

2. Which groups of French society benetited from therevolution Which gtoups were forced t
relinquish power ? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with tha
outcome ofthe revolution ?

Guidelines. Which Groups of French Society benefited from the Revolütion. All the groups of
the French Society which formerly formed a part of the Third Estate were benefited from the
revolution. These groups included the peasants, workers,petty officers,lawyers,teachers, doctors
and traders etc. Formerly they had to pay all the taxes and they were humiliated both by the
Clergy and the Nobles at every point but after the revolutionthey began to be treated equal with
the upper sections of the society.

Which Groups were forced to relinquish power. People belonging to the upper classes-the rust
Estate and the Second Estate, which enjoyed all the privileges had to relinquish power. Such
people were the Clergy and the Nobles. The special privileges of these higher sections
abolished as a result of the French Revolution. Now the French society was organisect on e
basis of social
equality.
nich Sections of Society wouldhave on.
been disappointed with the outcome of the RevoLu
Naturally the erstwhile privileged classes i.e the peen
clergy and the nobles wou
dlsappointed with the outcome of the
revolution because everybody is ciSaPP
privileges are
taken away from them, H
 Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for thepeopl of the world during the
nineteenth and tiwentieth centuries
Guidelines. [See pages I/12-13 of this Textbook]
Draw up alist of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origin could be traced to the Erench
Revolution
uidelines. We in India enjoy the following FundamentalRight
Right to Equality
Freedom
(i) Right to
(in) Cultural and EducationalRight
(iv) Right to Religious Freedom
(o) Right against Exploitation
(i) Right to Constitutional Remedies.
If we closely study the impact of the French Revolution aneasily find that many ofthem have
their originin the French Revolution.
Right to Equality The Right to Equality has its origin in the French Revolution. Equality
was one of the main principles of the French Revolution, which led to the special rights and
privileges of the common classes and established political, economic and social equality
( Right to Liberty or Freedonm. The origin of this right can also be traced to the French
Revolution. The Declaration of the Rights of Man laid emphasis on the personal liberty
and right of the common peoples. Tt snmashed the Divine Right of Kings and led to the
establishment of constitutional monarchy. The people were given the right to elect their
representatives to the legislature.
(in) Inspiring the Spirit of Democracy. The French Revolution inspired the spirit of
democracy which ensured all other rights which we enjoy today It laid atress on the
principle that the governmentshouldnotbe only for the peopler but also 'by the people'.
(iv) Encouraging the Spirit of Fratermity. By breaking al the shackles of high and low, the
French Revolution helped in the growth of the spirit of Fraternity and social welfare. The
special privileges of the upper classes were done away with and significant reforms were
introduced everywhere for the welfare of the labourers, peasants and common man. Such
a spirit enabled different govern to grant different rights to its people.
Directly or indirectly the originof all Fundamental Rights can be traced to the French Revolution.

5. Would you agree with the view that the message of urniversal rights was beset with
contradictions ? Explain.
Guidelines. There are two opinions this er the message of universal rights was
beset
with contradictions or not.
Most of the authors feel that the message of universal ights as exPlained in the last question, was
quite clear and there should be no contradiction to such principles The Declaration of Rights of
Man and Citizen was perhaps the first attempt in the world to draw an outline of the universal
rights on such a wider scale. It was a laudable attempt. It laid emphasis on the three fundamental
F!HTT
principles of Liberty, Equality andFraternityItisagreat contribution of France to the world. Such
principles have been adopted by all the democratic countries. Contradictions, if any, are only
vague and superficial and need not be taken so seriously, Some criticise only for the sake of
criticism and so they should be ignored
 2uidelines

The students themselves to do these activities-work with the help of their teachers and naarents
They can also make use of newspapers, magazines, libraries and internet etc.

18