The French Revolution 9th cbse

1. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (History)
1. Introduction
2. French Society during the Late 18th Century
3. Outbreak of the French Revolution
4. France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a
Republic
5. Reign of Terror
6. Abolition of Slavery
7. The Revolution and Everyday Life
8. Conclusion

2. INTRODUCTION
FRENCH REVOLUTION:
The French Revolution was a period of social and
political upheaval (disturbance) in France and its
colonies beginning in 1789 and ending in 1799.
REVOLUTION – when people’s movement bring
a noticeable change in any situation
Describe the Location of France in the world?

4. INTRODUCTION
a) King LOUIS XVI – king of
France in 1774 (only 20 years
old).
b) He helped America gain
independence from Britain
When LOUIS became
king, he got an empty
treasury
1. Long years of
war with Britain
2. Cost of maintaining
the Court in palace of
Versailles

5. FRENCH SOCIETY during the Late 18th CENTURY
• Added a billion LIVRES (money)
• Lenders who gave money on
credit started charging interest
• Govt. was forced to increase taxes
War
against
Britain
• 1st Estate
• 2nd Estate
• 3rd Estate (only tax payers in the
country)
Division
of French
Society

6. Division of the FRENCH SOCIETY – The Feudal System
a) The 1st Estate and 2nd Estate – Never paid any taxes
b) The 3rd Estate – people were not treated well by the kings:
- They were made to pay all taxes
- They were forced to work in houses of nobles
- They were forced to serve in the Army
- They were forced to build roads

7. How did the CHURCH take TAXES?
1. The Church collected
TITHES from 3rd Estate people
3. Indirect Taxes were levied
on things of use like Salt
2. Direct Taxes were
called TAILLE

8. SUBSISTENCE CRISIS - France
6. Situation got worse when crop failed due to drought and hail
5. So poor people could not buy foo and deaths due to starvation
increased (SUBSISTENCE CRISIS)
4. Wages and Income of common people did not increase
3. As a result prices of food grains increased
2. Demand for Food was more than its supply
1. Population increased but Agricultural Production did not

9. SUBSISTENCE CRISIS - France
1715 1789 TOTAL GROWTH
23 million 28 million 28m – 23m = 5 million

10. Did French People Revolt in the Past?
a) Only rich people
from 3rd Estate were
active
3rd Estate didn’t have
proper leadership and
resources

11. New Changes in 18th Century
New
Changes
in 18th
Century
1. MIDDLE
CLASS evolved
during this
period
2. People from
3rd Estate
earned money
through
manufacturing
or international
trade
3. Some people were
also doctor, teachers,
lawyers, admin officials
4. These people
had a specific
ideology & also
provided
leadership.

12. An EDUCATED MIDDLE CLASS
a) Middle Class
felt that no
group of people
should have
privileges by
birth
b) A person’s
social position
should be based
on Merit
c) They wanted
society based
on:
- Freedom
- Equal Laws
- Opportunities
for all

13. a) John Locke
- He refuted the
right of the
monarch
b) Jean Jacques
Rousseau
- He said the Govt.
should be a contract
between people
and the rulers
c) Montesquieu
- He Proposed the
Division of Powers
between the :
LEGISLATURE
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIARY

14. Outbreak of the French Revolution
• King Louis called an Assembly of
ESTATE GENERALS – discuss new taxes
• Attended by 300 reps of 1st Estate;
300 reps of 2nd Estate; 600 reps of 3rd
Estate
• Peasants, Artisans and Women were
not allowed entry – they sent 40,000
letters through representatives
5 May
1789
a) VOTING had to take place and each estate had ONE VOTE.
b) Members if 3rd Estate demanded that every member should have
ONE VOTE
c) King rejected their demand and 3rd Estate reps walked out -
PROTEST

15. Outbreak of the French Revolution
• Reps of 3rd ESTATE assembled in
Versaille – National Assembly
• They wanted to draft a
CONSTITUTION for France, to limit
powers of king
• While this Assembly went on, the
entire France was in turmoil –
severe winters and bad harvest.
• When people did not get food,
angry women barged into shops
• King ordered his troops to move
to Paris.
20
JUNE
1789

16. Outbreak of the French Revolution
• Angry crowd destroyed the Bastille.
• There were many rumours in the rural
areas:
• a) That the king will send people to
destroy the crops;
• b) Due to fear of crops getting destroyed,
the rural people attached the CHATEAU
(castle of king)
• People destroyed documents in the castle
and took all the grains.
• A lot of nobles fled from their homes,
even to neighbouring countries.
14
JULY
1789
a) KING LOUIS XVI gave up and recognized the National Assembly.
b) The King also accepted the Constitution
c) The King agreed to limit his powers.

17. Outbreak of the French Revolution
• Feudal System of obligations and
taxes were abolished – 3rd estate
benefitted
• 1st Estate (CLERGY) were also
forced to give up their privileges.
• TITHES (taxes taken by the church)
were abolished
• Land owned by the Church was
taken and sold – govt. earned 2
billion livres
4
AUGUST
1789

18. FRANCE BECOMES A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
The National Assembly completed the draft of the
CONSTITUTION in 1791.
OBJECTIVES
of
Constitution
of France
1. Limit powers of
the King
2. Power to
be divided
into:
a) LEGISLATURE
b) EXECUTIVE
c) JUDICIARY

19. ACTIVE and PASSIVE CITIZENS
ACTIVE
CITIZENS
Only MEN –
above 25
years of age
Highest
bracket of tax
payers
PASSIVE
CITIZENS
All WOMEN
Men who paid
less taxes & all
youth < 25 yrs

20. POLITICAL SYSTEM – CONSTITUTION of 1791
• National Assembly – 745 members
• Elected by voters – 50,000 men
only (ACTIVE CITIZENS)
LEGISLATURE
• King
• Ministers of King
EXECUTIVE
• JudgesJUDICIARY

21. FRENCH CONSTITUTION
1. RIGHT TO LIFE
2. RIGHT to
FREEDOM of
SPEECH
4. EQUALITY
BEFORE LAW
3. RIGHT to
FREEDOM OF
OPINION
DECLARATION of
the RIGHTS of
MAN &
CITIZENS

22. POLITICAL SYMBOLS
Symbol of
becoming
free
Symbol of
Strength
in Unity
Symbol
of
Eternity

23. POLITICAL SYMBOLS
Symbol of
Royal Power
Symbol of
Law being
same for All

24. POLITICAL SYMBOLS
Symbol of
slaves
becoming
free
Symbol of
Law
Symbol of
National
Colours of
France

25. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (History)
1. Introduction
2. French Society during the Late 18th Century
3. Outbreak of the French Revolution
4. France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a
Republic
5. Reign of Terror
6. Did Women have a Revolution?
7. Abolition of Slavery
8. The Revolution and Everyday Life
9. Conclusion

26. FRANCE ABOLISHES MONARCHY
BECOMES A REPUBLIC
1. KING LOUIS XVI had signed the Constitution
but was involved in secret negotiations with
Prussia.
2. King wanted the neighbouring countries to
help him gain power again.
3. All the neighbouring Kings were PLANNING to
send combined armies to RE-INSTATE monarchy
back in FRANCE.

27. a) 1792 – National
Assembly declared WAR
against Prussia and
Austria
b) Thousands of
VOLUNTEERS came up
to join the ARMY
d) Volunteers from
Marseilles sang a
patriotic song – now
National Anthem of
France
c) People saw it as a
war of common
people against
MONARCHY

28. Opinion About Revolutionary Wars
The wars brought ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES
to people:
a) Men were fighting as soldiers
b) Women had to earn money look after
families
Largely poor people were not happy with the
outcomes of the Wars ………………..WHY???

29. Opinion About Revolutionary Wars
a) Revolution is
DONE.
b) There should be
PEACE now
a) Revolution is
INCOMPLETE.
b) Everyone did
not get equal
power
VIEW1
VIEW2
a) People started debating issues of Public Interest.
b) Many POLITICAL CLUBS (PARTIES) came up with different issues.
c) Most successful club was JACOBINS
d) Women also formed political clubs

30. JACOBINS
Leader – MAXIMILIAN ROBESPIERRE
a) This club included poor sections of the society – shoemakers; cooks;
printers; servants; daily wage workers
b) The members of this club decided to wear striped trousers – to set
themselves apart from the fashionable sections of society
c) These people wore RED CAPS to symbolise Liberty.
d) Women were not allowed to do so.

31. JACOBINS
10 Aug
1792
Jacobins
attacked the
Palace of
Tuileries
They killed the
king’s guards
and held king
hostage
National Assembly voted to
imprison the Royal Family
Elections were held – all
men >21 years of age
could vote.
Elected Assembly was
called CONVENTION

32. • The Convention abolished
Monarchy
• Declared France to be a
REPUBLIC (people elect the
Government)
21
SEPTEMBER
1792
• A court sentenced King Louis XVI
to DEATH (treason)
• He was publicly executed in a
guillotine.
• His Queen Marie was also hung
to death
21
JANUARY
1793

33. REIGN of TERROR
a) Jacobins Leader took charge
of France – Maximilian
Robespierre.
b) He came up with strict
policies of self-control and
punishment.
c) Anyone who he saw as
“ENEMIES” were arrested;
imprisoned and tried in court.
d) If found ‘guilty’, they were
beheaded.
1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794
Stormin
g of
Bastille
National
Assembly busy
completing the
French
Constitution
Draft of the
Constitution
was ready
National
Assembly
declares War;
Jacobins come
to Power
REIGN of TERROR

34. MAJOR
DECISIONS
OF
ROBESPIERRE
1. Maximum
ceiling on Wages
and Prices
2. Fixed quantity of
Meat and Bread per
person
3. Farms to sell their
grain only in city at
prices fixed by
Government
4. Only whole wheat
flour permitted;
white flour banned
5. No titles like
Sir or Madame;
Men-Citoyen
Women-
Citoyenne

35. MAXIMILIAN ROBESPIERRE
 Maximilian was very strict.
 He was convicted by a court in July 1794.
 Killed in a GUILLOTINE.
 Led to FALL of JACOBIN GOVERNMENT

36. FRANCE – Directory Rule
 But…………..the situation remained unhappy 
 Members of the DIRECTORY and LEGISLATIVE
COUNCILS kept fighting with each other.
 NAPOLEON BONAPARTE – became king of France
 After death of Robespierre, rich members of the
National Assembly grabbed power.
DIRECTORY RULE: Power should not be concentrated
with one person
National Assembly formed a NEW CONSTITUTION:
 Right to Vote was taken back from Poor People (who
did not have any property)
 Introduced TWO elected LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS
 Introduced DIRECTORY – a group of 5 members

37. THREE GREAT IDEALS - FRENCH REVOLUTION
LIBERTY
- Freedom for all
- No restrictions of
any kind
EQUALITY
- All people are equal
- No discrimination
FRATERNITY
- All citizens should
have a feeling of
brotherhood
- Care for each other
like our own family

38. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (History)
1. Introduction
2. French Society during the Late 18th Century
3. Outbreak of the French Revolution
4. France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a
Republic
5. Reign of Terror
6. Did Women have a Revolution?
7. Abolition of Slavery
8. The Revolution and Everyday Life
9. Conclusion

39. Did WOMEN have a REVOLUTION?
JOBS
Maids
Selling
Flowers
Selling
Vegetables
Laundresses
WOMEN participated very actively in the FRENCH REVOLUTION
Women had no RIGHT to EDUCATION , except daughters of nobles and rich
people.
Inspite of working for low paid jobs, Women had to do all the work at home
To voice their opinions, Women started POLITICAL CLUBS

40. DEMANDS of WOMEN
Same Political Rights as Men
Right to Vote
Right to be Elected to the
Assembly
Right to Hold Political Office
FRENCH WOMEN were
disappointed by the FRENCH
CONSTITUTION 1791

41. RIGHTS GIVEN to WOMEN
1. Schooling was made
compulsory for Girls
2. Fathers could not
force their girls to get
married
3. Marriages were
registered; Women
had rights in Marriage
4. Divorce was made
legal; Women could
also apply for
5. Women could train
for Jobs; run small
businesses

42. Reign of
Terror
Women Political
Clubs were
banned
Women could not
participate in
Political Activities
Some Women
were arrested and
killed due to
Political Activities
Global
Impact
French Women
had to struggle for
>200 years
French Women
motivated other
women in the
World
FINALLY French
Women won the
Right to Vote in
1946

43. ABOLITION of SLAVERY
3 main FRENCH COLONIES in the
Caribbean sea:
a) Martinique
b) Guadeloupe
c) San Domingo
Commodities obtained from these
countries:
1. Sugarcane 2. Coffee
3. Indigo 4. Tobacco
European Workers were unwilling to go to these islands and work.
As a result, to cover the shortage of labour, there was SLAVE TRADE
between Europe, Africa and America

44. Slave
Triangle
Slave
Transport
Slave
Purchase

45. SLAVE TRADE started in the 17th Century. French
Merchants would travel to Africa to buy slaves
Slaves were bought, branded, shackled and packed
tightly in ships – sent from Africa to Caribbean Islands
Slaves were sold off to plantation owners in America.
Near Caribbean Islands
French port cities of Bordeax and Nantes flourished due
to this slave trade.

46. SLAVES - AFRICA

47. ABOLITION of SLAVERY
1794 – Convention BANNED slavery
1804 – Napolean RESTARTED slavery
1848 – SLAVERY was finally ABOLISHED

48. THE REVOLUTION & EVERYDAY LIFE
1789 - Abolition of
CENSORSHIP (Law)
In the OLD REGIME everything
needed approval by the King –
books, newspapers, plays
After the REVOLUTION, freedom
of speech and expression was a
natural right
Plays, songs and festive processions attracted a large number of
people. People would discuss and describe events to others.

49. NAPOLEAN BORNAPARTE
 1804 – Napolean crowned himself
as KING of FRANCE
 He conquered neighbouring
kingdoms and placed his family
members there.
 He introduced many laws:
 He was seen as someone who
would bring freedom
 Napolean was finally defeated at
waterloo in 1815
a) Protection of
Private Property
b) Uniform System
of Weights and
Measures
His ideas of Liberty and
Modern Law had a
great impact on parts
of Europe after he had
died.

50. CONCLUSION
GLOBAL IMPACT
of FRENCH
REVOLUTION
1. Feudal System abolished
from entire Europe
2. Colonised people
restarted their
struggle with a new
force
3. Tipu Sultan & Raja
Ramohan Roy used
these ideas to
improve life of
Indians

51. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (History)
1. Introduction
2. French Society during the Late 18th Century
3. Outbreak of the French Revolution
4. France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a
Republic
5. Reign of Terror
6. Did Women have a Revolution?
7. Abolition of Slavery
8. The Revolution and Everyday Life
9. Conclusion