The French Revolution – Class 9 CBSE Notes

1. Introduction

  • The French Revolution began in 1789 and is seen as the start of modern democracy.
  • It questioned absolute monarchy and promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity.

2. French Society in the 18th Century

  • Society was divided into Estates:
    1. First Estate – Clergy (church officials, enjoyed privileges).
    2. Second Estate – Nobility (landowners, exempt from taxes).
    3. Third Estate – Peasants, workers, and middle class (paid all taxes, had no rights).
  • Peasants & workers → suffered poverty.
  • Middle class → educated, inspired by Enlightenment thinkers (Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire).

3. The Struggle to Survive

  • Population growth → high demand for food.
  • Crop failures → bread prices rose.
  • Peasants burdened with feudal dues, tithes (to church), and state taxes.
  • Economic crisis worsened due to France’s debts (wars, lavish lifestyle of king).

4. The Outbreak of the Revolution

  • King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General (1789) to raise taxes.
  • Third Estate demanded voting by head, not by estate → rejected.
  • Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly.
  • On 14 July 1789, people stormed the Bastille Prison → symbol of the king’s oppression → start of the Revolution.

5. France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy

  • National Assembly drafted a Constitution (1791).
  • Limited the powers of the king, established a constitutional monarchy.
  • Only active citizens (men with property) could vote.
  • Women and poor men were excluded.

6. France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic

  • France faced war with Austria and Prussia.
  • Economic crisis → anger against monarchy.
  • 10 August 1792: Monarchy abolished, France declared a Republic.
  • King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were executed (1793).

7. The Reign of Terror (1793–94)

  • Led by Maximilian Robespierre (Jacobins).
  • Harsh laws against enemies of the revolution.
  • Guillotine used to execute people.
  • Ended with Robespierre’s fall in 1794.

8. The Directory Rules France

  • New Constitution (1795) → power in hands of a Directory (five members).
  • Political instability continued.
  • Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power in 1799.

9. Did Women have a Revolution?

  • Women participated actively (clubs, demands for education, voting rights).
  • But Constitution denied them political rights.
  • Women’s struggle for equality continued.

10. The Abolition of Slavery

  • Revolutionaries abolished slavery in French colonies (1794).
  • But Napoleon later reintroduced it (1804).
  • Finally abolished permanently in 1848.

11. The Revolution and Everyday Life

  • New symbols: tricolour flag, national anthem (La Marseillaise), new calendar.
  • Ideas of freedom and equality spread across Europe.

Summary (Quick Revision)

  • 1789: Revolution begins with storming of Bastille.
  • National Assembly → Constitutional Monarchy.
  • 1792: France becomes Republic → King executed.
  • 1793–94: Reign of Terror under Robespierre.
  • 1795: Directory rules → Napoleon rises to power.
  • Women participated but got no rights.
  • Slavery abolished (1794, restored by Napoleon, ended 1848).
  • Ideas of liberty and equality spread worldwide.
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