French Revolution : Class 9 History

French Revolution : Class 9 History

Welcome to Triple W’s History Hub! French Revolution : Class 9 History

Greetings, history enthusiasts! We’re Triple W, your guide to unraveling the rich tapestry of our past, and today, we’re diving into one of the most riveting episodes in history: the French Revolution. This iconic event, explored in your NCERT Class 9 textbook, is more than just a dramatic series of events; it’s a powerful testament to the struggle for equality, freedom, and justice.French Revolution : Class 9 History

Imagine a world where a nation’s social and political fabric is torn apart and reconstructed by the sheer force of the people’s will. That’s the essence of the French Revolution, a period that forever altered the course of history and laid the groundwork for modern democratic ideals.

In this blog, we’ll dissect the causes, key events, and impacts of the Revolution as outlined in your textbook, making sense of the complex web of ideas and actions that shaped this transformative era. Buckle up, as we embark on a journey through the tumultuous streets of Paris and beyond, uncovering the revolutionary fervor that changed the world.

Stay tuned for insightful discussions, engaging narratives, and a deeper understanding of how the echoes of the French Revolution resonate through our lives today. Let’s get started on this historical adventure!

(ट्रिपल डब्ल्यू के हिस्ट्री हब में आपका स्वागत है!

नमस्कार, इतिहास प्रेमियों! हम ट्रिपल डब्ल्यू हैं, हमारे अतीत की समृद्ध टेपेस्ट्री को उजागर करने के लिए आपके मार्गदर्शक, और आज, हम इतिहास के सबसे दिलचस्प एपिसोड में से एक में गोता लगा रहे हैं: फ्रांसीसी क्रांति। आपकी एनसीईआरटी कक्षा 9 की पाठ्यपुस्तक में खोजी गई यह प्रतिष्ठित घटना, घटनाओं की एक नाटकीय श्रृंखला से कहीं अधिक है; यह समानता, स्वतंत्रता और न्याय के लिए संघर्ष का एक शक्तिशाली प्रमाण है।

एक ऐसी दुनिया की कल्पना करें जहां एक राष्ट्र का सामाजिक और राजनीतिक ताना-बाना लोगों की इच्छाशक्ति के बल पर टूट जाता है और उसका पुनर्निर्माण होता है। यह फ्रांसीसी क्रांति का सार है, एक ऐसा काल जिसने इतिहास की धारा को हमेशा के लिए बदल दिया और आधुनिक लोकतांत्रिक आदर्शों की नींव रखी।

इस ब्लॉग में, हम आपकी पाठ्यपुस्तक में उल्लिखित क्रांति के कारणों, प्रमुख घटनाओं और प्रभावों का विश्लेषण करेंगे, जिससे इस परिवर्तनकारी युग को आकार देने वाले विचारों और कार्यों के जटिल जाल का पता चलेगा। कमर कस लें, क्योंकि हम पेरिस और उससे आगे की उथल-पुथल भरी सड़कों से होकर उस क्रांतिकारी उत्साह को उजागर करने वाली यात्रा पर निकल रहे हैं जिसने दुनिया को बदल दिया।

व्यावहारिक चर्चाओं, आकर्षक आख्यानों और फ्रांसीसी क्रांति की गूँज आज हमारे जीवन में कैसे गूंजती है, इसकी गहरी समझ के लिए हमारे साथ बने रहें। आइए इस ऐतिहासिक साहसिक कार्य की शुरुआत करें!)

 

The French Revolution: An Overview

The French Revolution, which began in 1789 and lasted until 1799, stands as one of the most transformative and tumultuous periods in modern history. It marked the end of the ancien régime—a system characterized by absolute monarchy and rigid social hierarchies—and set the stage for the rise of modern democratic institutions and ideas.

(फ्रांसीसी क्रांति: एक सिंहावलोकन

फ्रांसीसी क्रांति, जो 1789 में शुरू हुई और 1799 तक चली, आधुनिक इतिहास में सबसे परिवर्तनकारी और अशांत अवधियों में से एक है। इसने प्राचीन शासन व्यवस्था के अंत को चिह्नित किया – एक ऐसी प्रणाली जो पूर्ण राजशाही और कठोर सामाजिक पदानुक्रमों की विशेषता थी – और आधुनिक लोकतांत्रिक संस्थानों और विचारों के उदय के लिए मंच तैयार किया।)

1. Causes of the Revolution

The French Revolution was the result of a complex interplay of social, economic, political, and intellectual factors:

Social Inequality: French society was divided into three estates: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners). Despite being the majority, the Third Estate bore the brunt of taxation and had minimal political power, fostering widespread discontent.

Economic Hardship:France faced severe economic difficulties, including debt from wars (especially the American Revolutionary War), poor harvests, and rising food prices. This economic strain hit the common people hard, leading to widespread suffering and unrest.

Political Inefficiency: The absolute monarchy of Louis XVI was increasingly seen as ineffective and out of touch with the needs of the people. The King’s inability to resolve financial crises and his resistance to reform exacerbated the situation.

Intellectual Influences: Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu criticized traditional authority and promoted ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Their writings inspired the populace and intellectuals alike to question the existing order.

(1. क्रांति के कारण

फ्रांसीसी क्रांति सामाजिक, आर्थिक, राजनीतिक और बौद्धिक कारकों की जटिल परस्पर क्रिया का परिणाम थी:

सामाजिक असमानता: फ्रांसीसी समाज तीन वर्गों में विभाजित था: पहला एस्टेट (पादरी), दूसरा एस्टेट (कुलीन वर्ग), और तीसरा एस्टेट (सार्वजनिक)। बहुमत होने के बावजूद, तीसरे एस्टेट को कराधान का खामियाजा भुगतना पड़ा और उसके पास न्यूनतम राजनीतिक शक्ति थी, जिससे व्यापक असंतोष को बढ़ावा मिला।

आर्थिक कठिनाई: फ्रांस को गंभीर आर्थिक कठिनाइयों का सामना करना पड़ा, जिसमें युद्धों (विशेष रूप से अमेरिकी क्रांतिकारी युद्ध) से ऋण, खराब फसल और बढ़ती खाद्य कीमतें शामिल थीं। इस आर्थिक तनाव ने आम लोगों को बुरी तरह प्रभावित किया, जिससे व्यापक पीड़ा और अशांति फैल गई।

राजनीतिक अक्षमता: लुई XVI की पूर्ण राजशाही को तेजी से अप्रभावी और लोगों की जरूरतों के संपर्क से बाहर के रूप में देखा जाने लगा। वित्तीय संकटों को हल करने में राजा की असमर्थता और सुधार के प्रति उनके प्रतिरोध ने स्थिति को और खराब कर दिया।

बौद्धिक प्रभाव: वोल्टेयर, रूसो और मोंटेस्क्यू जैसे प्रबुद्ध विचारकों ने पारंपरिक प्राधिकार की आलोचना की और स्वतंत्रता, समानता और बंधुत्व के विचारों को बढ़ावा दिया। उनके लेखन ने जनता और बुद्धिजीवियों को मौजूदा व्यवस्था पर सवाल उठाने के लिए प्रेरित किया।)

2. Key Phases and Events

The Revolution unfolded in several key phases, each marked by significant events and shifts in power:

The Estates-General and National Assembly (1789): In May 1789, Louis XVI convened the Estates-General to address the financial crisis. The Third Estate, feeling underrepresented, declared itself the National Assembly and vowed to draft a new constitution, signaling the beginning of a power struggle.

Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): The Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny, was stormed by revolutionaries. This event is celebrated annually as Bastille Day and is seen as a pivotal moment in the Revolution.

The Reign of Terror (1793-1794): Under the radical Jacobin leadership of Maximilien Robespierre, the Revolution took a violent turn. The Committee of Public Safety oversaw a campaign of political repression and mass executions, including that of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. The Reign of Terror ended with Robespierre’s execution in July 1794.

The Directory and Napoleonic Era (1795-1799): After the fall of Robespierre, the Directory, a five-member committee, took control. This period was marked by political instability and corruption, paving the way for Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise. In 1799, Napoleon staged a coup d’état, establishing the Consulate and eventually declaring himself Emperor, thus ending the Revolution.

(2. प्रमुख चरण और घटनाएँ

क्रांति कई प्रमुख चरणों में सामने आई, जिनमें से प्रत्येक में महत्वपूर्ण घटनाएं और सत्ता परिवर्तन शामिल थे:

एस्टेट-जनरल और नेशनल असेंबली (1789): मई 1789 में, लुई XVI ने वित्तीय संकट को संबोधित करने के लिए एस्टेट-जनरल को बुलाया। तीसरे एस्टेट ने, खुद को कम प्रतिनिधित्व महसूस करते हुए, खुद को नेशनल असेंबली घोषित कर दिया और सत्ता संघर्ष की शुरुआत का संकेत देते हुए एक नए संविधान का मसौदा तैयार करने की कसम खाई।

बैस्टिल पर हमला (14 जुलाई, 1789): शाही अत्याचार के प्रतीक बैस्टिल पर क्रांतिकारियों ने हमला कर दिया। यह आयोजन प्रतिवर्ष बैस्टिल दिवस के रूप में मनाया जाता है और इसे क्रांति में एक महत्वपूर्ण क्षण के रूप में देखा जाता है।

आतंक का शासनकाल (1793-1794): मैक्सिमिलियन रोबेस्पिएरे के कट्टरपंथी जैकोबिन नेतृत्व के तहत, क्रांति ने एक हिंसक मोड़ ले लिया। सार्वजनिक सुरक्षा समिति ने राजनीतिक दमन और सामूहिक फाँसी के अभियान की निगरानी की, जिसमें राजा लुई सोलहवें और रानी मैरी एंटोनेट भी शामिल थे। जुलाई 1794 में रोबेस्पिएरे की फाँसी के साथ आतंक का शासन समाप्त हो गया।

निर्देशिका और नेपोलियन युग (1795-1799): रोबेस्पिएरे के पतन के बाद, पांच सदस्यीय समिति, निर्देशिका ने नियंत्रण अपने हाथ में ले लिया। यह अवधि राजनीतिक अस्थिरता और भ्रष्टाचार से चिह्नित थी, जिसने नेपोलियन बोनापार्ट के उत्थान का मार्ग प्रशस्त किया। 1799 में, नेपोलियन ने तख्तापलट किया, वाणिज्य दूतावास की स्थापना की और अंततः खुद को सम्राट घोषित कर दिया, इस प्रकार क्रांति समाप्त हो गई।)

3. Outcomes and Legacy

The French Revolution had profound and far-reaching effects:

Abolition of Feudalism: The Revolution dismantled the feudal system and abolished the privileges of the nobility and clergy. It established legal equality and promoted merit-based advancement.

Rise of Secularism: The Catholic Church’s influence was significantly reduced, and secular institutions gained prominence. The Revolution also led to the confiscation of church lands and the implementation of new religious policies.

Spread of Revolutionary Ideals: The ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired other revolutionary movements across Europe and the Americas. The Revolution’s impact on global politics and society was significant, contributing to the spread of democratic ideals and the challenge to absolute monarchies.

Napoleonic Code and Modern State: Napoleon’s legal reforms, including the Napoleonic Code, laid the groundwork for modern legal systems and administrative structures in many countries.

The French Revolution remains a profound chapter in history, reflecting the struggles and aspirations of people seeking to transform their society. Its legacy continues to shape political thought and democratic movements worldwide.

(3. परिणाम और विरासत

फ्रांसीसी क्रांति का गहरा और दूरगामी प्रभाव पड़ा:

सामंतवाद का उन्मूलन: क्रांति ने सामंती व्यवस्था को नष्ट कर दिया और कुलीन वर्ग और पादरी वर्ग के विशेषाधिकारों को समाप्त कर दिया। इसने कानूनी समानता स्थापित की और योग्यता-आधारित उन्नति को बढ़ावा दिया।

धर्मनिरपेक्षता का उदय: कैथोलिक चर्च का प्रभाव काफी हद तक कम हो गया और धर्मनिरपेक्ष संस्थाओं को प्रमुखता मिली। क्रांति के कारण चर्च की भूमि को जब्त कर लिया गया और नई धार्मिक नीतियों को लागू किया गया।

क्रांतिकारी आदर्शों का प्रसार: स्वतंत्रता, समानता और भाईचारे के विचारों ने पूरे यूरोप और अमेरिका में अन्य क्रांतिकारी आंदोलनों को प्रेरित किया। वैश्विक राजनीति और समाज पर क्रांति का प्रभाव महत्वपूर्ण था, जिसने लोकतांत्रिक आदर्शों के प्रसार और पूर्ण राजशाही को चुनौती देने में योगदान दिया।

नेपोलियन कोड और आधुनिक राज्य: नेपोलियन के कानूनी सुधारों, जिनमें नेपोलियन कोड भी शामिल है, ने कई देशों में आधुनिक कानूनी प्रणालियों और प्रशासनिक संरचनाओं के लिए आधार तैयार किया।

फ्रांसीसी क्रांति इतिहास में एक गहरा अध्याय बनी हुई है, जो अपने समाज को बदलने की चाह रखने वाले लोगों के संघर्ष और आकांक्षाओं को दर्शाती है। इसकी विरासत दुनिया भर में राजनीतिक विचार और लोकतांत्रिक आंदोलनों को आकार दे रही है।)

Question 1. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France?
Answer:
The following circumstances led to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France:

1. Louis XVI was an autocratic ruler who could not compromise with his luxurious life. He also lacked farsightedness.
2. When he ascended the throne the royal treasury was empty. Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. Added to this was the cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace of Versailles.
3. Under Louis XVI France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from Britain the war added more than a billion livres to a dept credit, now began to charge 10% interest on loans. So the French government was obliged to spend an increasing percentage of its budget on interest payments alone.
4. The state finally increased taxes to meet its regular expenses su?h as the cost of maintaining an army, running government offices and universities.
5. The French society was divided into three estates but only members of the first two estates i.e,, the clergy and the nobles were exempted to pay taxes. They belonged to privileged class. Thus the burden of financing activities of the state through taxes was borne by the third estate only.
6. The middle class that emerged in the 18th century France was educated and enlightened. They refuted the theory of divine rights of the kings and absolute monarchy. They believed that a person’s social position must depend on his merit. They had access to the various ideas of equality and freedom proposed by philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu etc. Their ideas got popularised among the common mass as a result of intensive discussions and debates in saloons and coffee houses and through books and newspapers.
7. The French administration was extremely corrupt. It did not give weightage to the French Common man.
   The state finally increased taxes to meet its regular expenses such as the cost of maintaining an army, running government offices and universities.

Question 2. Which groups of French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?
Answer:

1. The wealthy class of the third estate which came to be known as the new middle class of France benefited the most from the revolution. This group comprised of big businessmen, petty officers, lawyers, teachers, doctors and traders. Previously, these people had to pay state taxes and they did not enjoy equal status. But after the revolution they began to be treated equally with the upper sections of the society.
2. With the abolition of feudal system of obligation and taxes, the clergy and the nobility came on the same level with the middle class. They were forced to give up their privileges. Their executive powers were also taken away from them.
3. The poorer sections of the society, i.e. small peasants, landless labourers, servants, daily wage earners would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution. Women also would have been highly discontented.

Question 3. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries.
Answer:
The French Revolution proved to be the most important event in the history of the world.

1. The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution. These ideas became an umpiring force for the political movements in the world in the 19th and 20th centuries.
2. The ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity spread from France to the rest of Europe, where feudal system was finally abolished.
3. Colonised people reworked on the idea of freedom from bondage into their movements to Create a sovereign nation-state.
4. The idea of Nationalism that emerged after the French Revolution started becoming mass movements all over the world. Now people began to question the absolute power.
5. The impact of the French Revolution would be seen in India too. Tipu Sultan and Raja Rammohan Roy got deeply influenced by the ideas of the revolution. In the end, we can say that after the French Revolution people all over the world became aware of their rights.

Question 4. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution.
Answer:
Some of the democratic rights which we enjoy today can be traced to the French Revolution are as follows:

1. Right to equality including equality before the law, the prohibition of discrimination, and equality of opportunity in matters of employment.
2. Right to freedom of speech and expression including the right to practice any profession or occupation.
3. Right against exploitation.
4. Right to life.
5. Right to vote.

Question 5. Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions? Explain.
Answer:

1. The message of universal rights was definitely beset with contradictions. Many ideals of the “Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen” were not at all clear. They had dubious meanings.
2. The French Revolution could not bring economic equality and it is the fact that unless there is economic equality, real equality cannot be received at any sphere. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen laid stress on equality but large section of the society was denied to it. The right to vote and elect their representatives did not solve the poor man’s problem.
3. Women were still regarded as passive citizens. They did not have any political rights such as right to vote and hold political offices like men. Hence, their struggle for equal political rights continued.
4. France continued to hold and expand colonies. Thus, its image as a liberator could not last for a long time.
5. Slavery existed in France until the first half of the 19th century.

Question 6. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?
Answer:

1. The political instability of the Directory paved the way for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon had achieved glorious victories in wars. This made France realize that only a military dictator like Napoleon would restore a stable government.
2. In 1804, he crowned himself the emperor of France. He set out to conquer neighboring European countries, dispossessing dynasties and creating kingdoms where he placed members of his family. Napoleon viewed himself as a moderniser of Europe.
3. He introduced many laws such as the protection of private property and a uniform system of weight and measures provided by the decimal system. But his rise to power did not last for a long time. He was finally defeated at Waterloo in 1815.

Important Questions

Question 1. Who was the ruler of France during the revolution?
Answer: Louis XVI of the Bourbon family was the ruler of France.

Question 2. Name the three ‘Estates’ into which the French society was divided before the Revolution.
Answer:

• The First Estate — Clergy
• The Second Estate — Nobility
• The Third Estate — Common people.

Question 3. When did the French Revolution occur?
Answer: 14th July, 1789.

Question 4. What was tithes?
Answer: It was a tax levied by the church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.

Question 5. What was taille?
Answer: It was a direct tax to be paid to the State.

Question 6. Who formed the National Assembly in France in 1789?
Answer: Third Estate

Question 7. To whom was the taxes called Tithes payable by the peasants in the eighteenth century France?
Answer: Church.

Question 8. Which class of society in France was behind the French Revolution?
Answer: Middle class.

Question 9. What was the slogan of the French revolutionaries?
Answer: Liberty, Fraternity and Equality.

Question 10. On what charges was Louis XVI of France sentenced to death?
Answer: Treason.

Question 11. What was feudal system?
Answer: It was a system under which land was granted to landlords in return for military or labour services.

Question 12. Which philosopher had forwarded the principle of voting by the assembly as a whole, where each member should have one vote, during the rule of louis XVI?
Answer: Rousseau.

Question 13. In which book did Rousseau mention the idea of one person, one vote?
Answer: The Social Contract.