🎓 Class 9 – History
📘 Chapter 1: The French Revolution
📚 Book: India and the Contemporary World - I (History)
📅 Session: 2025–26
👨🏫 Presented by: Amresh kumar
🏰 The French Revolution Begins (1789)
🌅 Early morning in Paris, there was an atmosphere of fear and chaos (अशांति).
🔥 Rumours (अफवाहें) spread that the King would open fire on the citizens.
👥 People gathered in large numbers and began to attack government buildings for weapons.
🏯 The Bastille (राजसी किला) fortress was stormed — its commander was killed, and prisoners were set free.
❌ Bastille was hated by the people because it symbolized the despotic (तानाशाही) power of the King.
🍞 Citizens also protested against the high price of bread.
⚔️ This triggered a chain (श्रृंखला) of revolutionary (क्रांतिकारी) events, ultimately leading to the execution (फांसी) of the King.
🏰 French Society During the Late 18th Century
👑 In 1774, Louis XVI became the King of France.
💸 France was already financially drained (आर्थिक रूप से कमजोर) due to wars.
⚔️ Louis XVI supported the 13 American colonies in their fight for independence from Britain.
📈 To cover daily expenses (army, court, govt. offices), the King increased taxes.
🧭 France was divided into three estates (वर्ग) during the 18th century:
•First Estate: Clergy (पादरी वर्ग)
•Second Estate: Nobility (राजसी वर्ग)
•Third Estate: Everyone else (common people)
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🏰 The feudal system (जमींदारी व्यवस्था) dated back to the Middle Ages (मध्यकाल).
🌾 90% population were peasants (किसान), but very few owned the land they cultivated.
📊 Around 60% of land was owned by nobles, clergy, and rich third estate members.
🛡️ Clergy and Nobility enjoyed privileges (विशेष अधिकार) by birth, like:
•❌ No taxes to be paid
•🏇 Enjoyed feudal privileges (like forced labour from peasants)
💰 The Third Estate bore the entire tax burden, including:
•🔺 Taille (ताय) – a direct tax
•🧂 Indirect taxes on daily items like salt and tobacco
🍞 The Struggle to Survive
👨👩👧👦 Population increased rapidly, leading to higher demand for food grains.
🌾 But the grain production couldn't keep up with the rising demand.
📈 As a result, the price of bread rose sharply (तेज़ी से बढ़ गई).
💸 Labourers were paid very low wages (कम मज़दूरी).
⚖️ This caused the gap between the rich and poor to widen (अमीर-गरीब की खाई बढ़ गई).
🌪️ The situation became worse during droughts (सूखा) or hailstorms (ओले पड़ना), which damaged crops and reduced harvests.
📚 A Growing Middle Class Envisages an End to Privileges
⚔️ Peasants (किसान) often revolted against high taxes and food scarcity (भोजन की कमी).
👥 The Third Estate began to prosper — they got access to education and new ideas.
💼 In the 18th century, a new social group emerged, called the Middle Class (मध्यम वर्ग).
🌍 They gained wealth from:
•🔄 Overseas trade (विदेशी व्यापार)
•🧵 Manufacturing of woollen and silk textiles (ऊन और रेशम के कपड़े)
👨⚖️ Third estate now included educated professionals like:
•Lawyers (वकील)
•Administrative officials (प्रशासनिक अधिकारी)
🧠 Social status was now based on merit (योग्यता), not birth (जन्म).
🧠 Ideas That Inspired Change
📜 Rousseau proposed a new government based on a Social Contract (सामाजिक अनुबंध) between people and their representatives.
⚖️ Montesquieu suggested division of power in government:
•🏛️ Legislative (विधायी)
•🛡️ Executive (कार्यपालिका)
•⚖️ Judiciary (न्यायपालिका)
This model was successfully implemented in the USA.
👑 Meanwhile, Louis XVI planned to impose more taxes to cover rising expenses.
📣 The Outbreak of the Revolution – Political Turn
👑 In France, the monarch couldn’t impose taxes directly.
🏛️ He had to call the Estates-General (राजनैतिक सभा) – with representatives from all three estates.
📅 On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called this assembly to pass new tax proposals.
👥 Third Estate was represented by educated and prosperous members.
⚖️ Voting system: 1 vote per estate
🗳️ But the Third Estate demanded: 1 vote per member
❌ Demand rejected → Third Estate walked out in protest
✊ They took an oath: not to disperse until a constitution
was framed that would limit the king’s power
📜 Known as the Tennis Court Oath (टेनिस कोर्ट की शपथ)
🔥Peasant Revolt & National Assembly's Actions
❄️ Severe winter → bread prices increased, people stood in long queues
😨 Rumours spread: landlords hired brigands (लुटेरे) to destroy crops
🌾 In fear, peasants:
•Looted grain stockpiles
•Burnt manorial dues records (जमींदारी कर दस्तावेज़)
🏃 Nobles fled from villages to escape violence
🏛️ Louis XVI recognised the National Assembly
•📉 He accepted constitutional limits on his power
📜 On 4 August 1789, Assembly passed historic decrees:
•❌ Feudal system abolished
•❌ Tithes (church taxes) removed
•🏰 Church lands confiscated
🏛️ France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy (1791)
📜 In 1791, the National Assembly completed the draft of the Constitution (संविधान).
🎯 Main aim: To limit the powers of the monarch (राजा की शक्ति सीमित करना).
🧭 Powers were divided among three institutions:
•🏛️ Legislature (विधान मंडल)
•🛡️ Executive (कार्यपालिका)
•⚖️ Judiciary (न्यायपालिका)
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Thus, France became a Constitutional Monarchy (संवैधानिक राजतंत्र).
🗳️ Voting Rights & Declaration of Rights
👨💼 Citizens voted for a group of electors (चुनावकर्ता), who chose the Assembly.
⚠️ But not everyone had the right to vote.
✅ Only men above 25 years who paid taxes equal to 3 days’ labour wage could vote.
📜 The Constitution began with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen:
🧬 Natural and Inalienable Rights (जन्मजात और अविच्छेद्य अधिकार)
•🧍♂️ Right to Life (जीवन का अधिकार)
•🗣️ Freedom of Speech (भाषण की स्वतंत्रता)
•💭 Freedom of Opinion (राय रखने की स्वतंत्रता)
•⚖️ Equality Before Law (कानून के सामने समानता)
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✅ These rights belonged to all by birth and could not be taken away.
⚔️ France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic (1792)
📅 In April 1792, the National Assembly declared war on Prussia and Austria.
🎵 The Marseillaise (मार्सेलेज़) became the national anthem of France.
👩👧 While men went to war, women took care of homes and families.
❌ People criticised the 1791 Constitution as it gave political rights only to the rich.
🗳️ Political clubs were formed demanding more equality.
🔴 Rise of Jacobins & Fall of Monarchy
🔥 The Jacobin Club became the most powerful political group.
🧑🔧 Its members included:
•Small shopkeepers (दुकानदार)
•Artisans (कारीगर) – shoemakers, pastry cooks, watchmakers, printers
•Servants and daily wage workers (दिहाड़ी मज़दूर)
👖 They wore long striped trousers like dockworkers – called Sans-culottes (literally – "those without knee breeches").
🏰 On 10 August 1792, the Jacobins stormed the Palace of Tuileries and held King Louis XVI hostage.
🗳️ New elections held – now all men above 21 could vote.
📅 On 21 September 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and France was declared a Republic.
⚖️ King Louis XVI was found guilty of treason (राज-द्रोह) and sentenced to death.
🔪 The Reign of Terror (1793–1794)
⏳ The period from 1793 to 1794 is known as the Reign of Terror (आतंक का शासनकाल).
👤 Robespierre, leader of the Jacobins, arrested and punished all those he saw as ‘enemies of the republic’.
⚖️ These people were tried in a revolutionary tribunal (क्रांतिकारी अदालत).
❌ If found guilty, they were guillotined (गिलोटिन से सिर काटा जाता था).
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🩸 The Guillotine – Symbol of Fear
🪓 Guillotine was a device with two poles and a sharp blade used for beheading (सिर कलम करना).
🧑⚕️ Named after Dr. Guillotin, who proposed this method as a ‘humane execution’.
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🧾 Extreme Control & Forced Equality
💰 Laws were made to fix maximum wages and prices (वेतन और कीमतों की सीमा तय की गई).
🍞 Meat and bread were rationed (अनाज की सीमित आपूर्ति).
❌ White flour was banned – it was seen as a luxury.
🗣️ Equality was even practised in language:
•All were addressed as Citoyen (पुरुष नागरिक) and Citoyenne (महिला नागरिक) instead of ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’.
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⚖️ Fall of Robespierre
📅 In July 1794, Robespierre himself was arrested.
🪓 He was found guilty and guillotined the next day.
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🏛️ A Directory Rules France
⚖️ After the fall of the Jacobin government, the wealthy middle class (समृद्ध मध्यम वर्ग) took control.
📜 A new constitution was introduced:
•❌ Non-propertied (जिनके पास संपत्ति नहीं थी) people were denied the right to vote.
•🗳️ It created two elected legislative councils (विधान परिषदें).
👥 An executive body called the Directory (निदेशक मंडल) was formed:
•👉 It had five members chosen by the legislature.
⚠️ But this system was politically unstable (राजनीतिक रूप से अस्थिर).
🪖 This instability paved the way for a military dictator —
•⚔️ Napoleon Bonaparte (नेपोलियन बोनापार्ट) rose to power.
👩⚖️ Did Women Have a Revolution?
👩🌾 From the very beginning of the Revolution, women actively participated in protests and change.
👩👧👦 Women of the Third Estate:
•Had to work for a living
•Got no formal education or training
•Also had to care for their families
👩🏫 Only daughters of nobles were allowed to study in convents (धार्मिक स्कूल).
💰 Women were paid lower wages than men for the same work.
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🗳️ Political Demands & Achievements
📰 Women started their own political clubs and newspapers.
👥 The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women became a famous women’s club.
✊ They demanded:
Right to Vote (मतदान का अधिकार)
Right to Hold Political Office (राजनीतिक पद पाने का अधिकार)
🏫 Revolutionary Changes for Women
✅ Schooling made compulsory (शिक्षा अनिवार्य)
✅ Divorce became legal (तलाक वैध हुआ)
✅ Women could now run small businesses
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⚠️ Repression & Later Victory
🚫 During the Reign of Terror, all women’s clubs were banned, political rights removed.
🗳️ After a long struggle, French women finally got the Right to Vote in 1946.
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✊🏿 The Abolition of Slavery
🔥 The Jacobin regime’s most revolutionary social reform (क्रांतिकारी सामाजिक सुधार) was the abolition of slavery (ग़ुलामी समाप्त करना) in French colonies.
⛵ In the 17th century, the slave trade began:
•Slaves were bought from local chiefs (स्थानीय सरदारों)
•Then branded (दागे गए), shackled (जंजीर डाली गई), and packed into ships
•🌊 They faced a 3-month-long Atlantic journey to the Caribbean islands
🧃 Their labour was used to meet European demand for:
•Sugar, coffee, indigo (नील)
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📜 End of Slavery – Timeline
In France, slavery wasn’t questioned for most of the 18th century
📅 In 1794, the Convention (क्रांतिकारी सभा) legally abolished slavery in all French overseas colonies
😔 But in 1804, Napoleon reintroduced slavery
✅ Finally, in 1848, slavery was permanently abolished in all French colonies
🎭 The Revolution and Everyday Life
📅 In 1789, the French Revolution brought major changes in the daily lives of men, women, and children.
❌ Censorship (सेंसरशिप – विचारों की रोक) was abolished in the summer of 1789.
📜 The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen declared:
•🗣️ Freedom of speech (बोलने की आज़ादी)
•📰 Freedom of expression and press (अभिव्यक्ति और प्रेस की स्वतंत्रता) as natural rights
📢 Now, people could express opposing views freely through:
•🎭 Plays
•🎶 Songs
•🎉 Festive processions (उत्सव झांकियाँ)
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👥 These events attracted large public participation and became a medium of public awareness.
🚀 Keep Learning, Keep Growing! See you next time! 👋
