NCERT Solutions Class 9th Social Science History Chapter – 1 The French Revolution Notes

• The French Revolution went through various stages. When Louis XVI became the king of France in 1774, he inherited a treasury which was empty. There was growing discontent within the society of the Old Regime.• 1789 – Convocation of Estates General. The Third Estate forms National Assembly, Tennis Court Oath the Bastille is stormed, peasant revolts in the countryside, Assembly issues Declaration of the Rights of Man.•1791 – A constitution is framed to limit the powers of the king and to guarantee the basic right to all human beings.

• Robespierre’s Committee of Public Safety repels back foreign invaders.Executes many ‘enemies of the people’ in France itself.

• 1794 – Robespierre is executed. France is governed by a Directory, a committee of five men. The Reign of Terror ends.1795 – National convention dissolved.1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte becomes the leader of the French Revolution ends.

• There was a triangular slave trade among Europe, Africa, and America.In the 18th century, there was little criticism of slavery in France.No laws were passed against it.It was in 1794 that the convention made free to all slaves.But 10 years later slavery was reintroduced by Napoleon.It was finally in 1848 that slavery was abolished in the French colonies.

• The years following 1789 in France saw many changes in the lives of men, women, and children.The revolutionary governments took it upon themselves to pass laws that would translate the ideals of liberty and equality into everyday practice.One important law that came into effect was the abolition of censorship.The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution. These spread from France to the rest of Europe during the 19th century.

• In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France.He set out to conquer neighboring European countries, dispossessing dynasties and creating kingdoms where he placed members of his family.He saw his role as a modernizer of Europe.He was finally, defeated at Waterloo in 1815.