Key Concepts - The French Revolution | Social Studies (SST) Class 9 PDF Download

French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

• Louis XVI: King of France during the late 18th century, known for his financial troubles and role in the lead-up to the French Revolution.
• Marie Antoinette: Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI, criticized for her extravagant lifestyle during a time of economic hardship.
• Versailles: Lavish palace near Paris, a symbol of royal opulence.
• American Revolution: War for American independence from Britain, with France providing support.
• French debt crisis: Severe financial problems due to wars and court expenses.
• Three Estates: Pre-revolutionary French society was divided into clergy, nobility, and commoners.
• Old Regime: The social and political system of France before the revolution.
• Feudal privileges: Special rights and exemptions granted to nobility.
• Tithes: Mandatory church taxes paid by peasants.
• Taxes (taille, indirect): Direct and indirect taxes, with taille being significant.
• Subsistence crisis: Scarce and unaffordable basic necessities like food.
• Middle class: An emerging group of professionals, merchants, and educated individuals.
• Overseas trade: Commerce with foreign countries, boosting the middle class.
• Philosophers: Thinkers like John Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu who influenced Enlightenment ideas.

• Social contract: Concept of a mutual agreement forming the basis of government.
• American Constitution: Foundational U.S. document serving as a model for France.
• Salons and coffee-houses: Gathering places for intellectual discussions.
• Enlightenment: 18th-century movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, and progress.
• Louis XVI's taxation policies: Measures to address financial crisis, contributing to public discontent.
• Danton: Prominent figure in the early stages of the French Revolution.
• Arthur Young: English traveller and writer critical of French society.
• Opposition to slavery and tyranny: Arthur Young criticises slavery and tyranny in his writings, advocating for the rights and well-being of oppressed individuals. In the context of 1787, he likely refers to the mistreatment of commoners by the nobility and the monarchy.

The Outbreak of the Revolution

1. Estates General: A pre-revolutionary assembly comprising representatives from three estates - clergy, nobility, and commoners - convened by the monarch to discuss and pass important legislation.
2. Third Estate: The largest estate representing commoners, including peasants, artisans, and the bourgeoisie, played a pivotal role in the French Revolution.
3. National Assembly: Formed by the Third Estate, this revolutionary body declared itself the legitimate representative of the French people and drafted a new constitution.
4. Mirabeau: A noble who supported the revolution, Mirabeau advocated for ending feudal privileges and greater equality among social classes.
5. The Social Contract (by Rousseau): A philosophical work by Jean-Jacques Rousseau discusses social contract theory, which influences notions of equality and popular sovereignty.
6. Bastille: A fortress and prison stormed by an agitated crowd in 1789, symbolizing the start of the French Revolution.
7. Feudal system: A medieval social structure where land was held by nobles in exchange for loyalty and service, often involving obligations and taxes on peasants.
8. Constitutional monarchy: A government system where the monarch's powers are constrained by a constitution, limiting their authority.
9. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: A fundamental document of the French Revolution, it outlined individual rights and equality before the law.
10. Active citizens: Individuals eligible to vote and participate in political activities, subject to specific criteria, such as age and tax payment.
11. Passive citizens: Those excluded from political participation, including women, who lacked voting rights during this period.
12. Electors: Individuals chosen by active citizens to participate in representative elections, forming an intermediary step in the electoral process.
13. National Constitution of 1791: Established a constitutional monarchy in France, separating and distributing governmental powers among different institutions.

France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic

1. Marseillaise: France's national anthem, composed during the Revolution, symbolizing the spirit of the people's fight for liberty.
2. Revolutionary Wars: A series of conflicts initiated by the French Revolution, involving France fighting against other European monarchies, resulting in economic hardships and loss of life.
3. Jacobins: Radical political club led by Maximilian Robespierre, advocating for revolutionary change and social justice.
4. Sans-culottes: Common people in revolutionary France who wore long trousers, distinct from the nobility's knee breeches, as a symbol of their opposition to aristocracy.
5. The Tuileries: Royal palace in Paris was stormed by Jacobins in 1792, leading to the king's imprisonment and the monarchy's abolition.
6. Reign of Terror: Period of severe control and punishment from 1793 to 1794, marked by mass executions of perceived enemies of the republic.
7. Guillotine: Execution device consisting of two poles and a blade, widely used during the Reign of Terror for beheadings.
8. Directory: Post-Jacobin government with a five-member executive, designed to prevent excessive concentration of power.
9. Napoleon Bonaparte: Military leader who rose to power after the Revolution, becoming dictator and eventually Emperor, significantly impacting European history.
10. Freedom, Equality, Fraternity: Guiding principles of the French Revolution, representing liberty, equal treatment under the law, and unity among citizens, inspiring future political movements.

The Abolition of Slavery 

1. Abolition of Slavery: The act of ending the practice of enslaving individuals, which was a revolutionary social reform carried out by the Jacobin regime in the French colonies.
2. Caribbean Colonies: French overseas territories in the Caribbean, such as Martinique, Guadeloupe, and San Domingo (Haiti), are known for their production of valuable commodities.
3. Triangular Slave Trade: A historical trade network between Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving the transportation of slaves from Africa to the New World.
4. Exploitation of Slave Labor: The use of enslaved individuals to work on plantations, particularly in the production of sugar, coffee, and indigo, to meet European market demands.
5. Slave Trade: The buying and selling of enslaved people, which became a profitable enterprise for European merchants in the 17th century.
6. Plantation Owners: Individuals who owned and operated large agricultural estates, often relying on slave labour for economic gain.
7. African Negroes: Enslaved Africans brought to the New World, often under brutal conditions, to work on plantations.
8. Slavery Abolition (1848): The final emancipation of enslaved individuals in French colonies in 1848 marked the end of the practice in these regions.

The Revolution and Everyday Life

1. Abolition of Censorship: Removal of content restrictions, enabling free expression of ideas and information.
2. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: Revolutionary document guaranteeing rights like freedom of speech during the French Revolution.
3. Freedom of the Press: The right to publish without government control, fostering open communication.
4. Political Philosophers: Thinkers shaping political thought through their theories and writings.
5. Printed Pictures: Visuals in print media are used to convey political messages widely.
6. Opposing Views: Different perspectives are discussed freely in the press.
7. Festive Processions: Celebratory events engaging the public in revolutionary ideals.
8. Liberty and Justice: Core concepts of freedom and fairness conveyed to a broader audience through various media.

Important Events

1774 - Louis XVI Becomes King:

• Louis XVI ascended the throne of France, facing a financial crisis and an extravagant court.
• France had incurred a massive debt due to wars and lavish spending.

July 14, 1789 - Storming of the Bastille:

• On this day, a crowd of around 7,000 people in Paris stormed the Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny and despotism.
• The Bastille was a fortress prison, and its fall marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

1789 - Calling of the Estates-General:

• Louis XVI called the Estates-General, a political body representing the three estates of France (clergy, nobility, and commoners), to address financial issues.
• June 20, 1789 - Formation of the National Assembly:
• Members of the third estate, representing commoners, declared themselves a National Assembly and vowed to draft a constitution to limit the monarch's power.

August 10, 1792 - Storming of the Tuileries:

• Jacobins and revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace, leading to the arrest of King Louis XVI.
• This event marked a significant shift in the revolution.

September 21, 1792 - Abolition of Monarchy:

• The National Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.

January 21, 1793 - Execution of Louis XVI:

• Louis XVI was publicly executed by guillotine, marking a dramatic turning point in the revolution.

1793-1794 - Reign of Terror:

• A period characterized by severe control and punishment under the leadership of Maximilien Robespierre.
• Thousands of people, including political opponents, were executed during this time.

July 28, 1794 - Execution of Maximilien Robespierre:

• Robespierre was arrested and subsequently executed, bringing an end to the Reign of Terror.

1794 - Abolition of Slavery in French Colonies:

• The Convention abolished slavery in French overseas possessions, although it was later reintroduced by Napoleon.

1799 - Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte:

• Political instability led to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, who eventually became a military dictator.

1848 - Final Abolition of Slavery in French Colonies:

• Slavery was permanently abolished in French colonies in 1848.

Late 18th Century - Abolition of Censorship:

• The abolition of censorship allowed for the freedom of speech, expression, and the publication of various forms of media during the French Revolution.

1946 - Women's Right to Vote in France:

• Women in France finally gained the right to vote in 1946 after a long struggle that began during the French Revolution.