Class 9 History Chapter 1- The French Revolution Notes & Timeline

Class 9 History Chapter 1 – The French Revolution

Step into the story of how ordinary people in France stood up against injustice, sparked a revolution, and changed the world forever. These NCERT-based Class 9 notes on The French Revolution bring the chapter to life with timelines, flowcharts, key terms, and a full chapter summary — all in one easy-to-understand page. From the storming of the Bastille to the fall of monarchy, experience the revolution that gave birth to the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

✨ Perfect for revision, exams, and truly understanding how history was rewritten — one uprising at a time.

Class 9 History Chapter 1 – The French Revolution

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Class 9 History Chapter 1 – The French Revolution

1.1 France Under Louis XVI

In 1774, Louis XVI of the Bourbon family became the King of France at the age of 20.
He was married to Marie Antoinette, the princess of Austria.
When he became king, he found an empty treasury due to long years of war and royal extravagance.
The cost of maintaining the royal court at the palace of Versailles was extremely high.
France had helped the thirteen American colonies in gaining independence from Britain, which added over 1 billion livres to France’s existing debt of more than 2 billion livres.
To meet regular expenses like maintaining the army, court, government offices, and universities, taxes had to be increased.
However, only the members of the Third Estate were liable to pay taxes.

1.2 Division of French Society into Three Estates

French society in the 18th century was divided into three estates.
The First Estate consisted of the clergy, the Second Estate included the nobility, and the Third Estate comprised common people.
The First and Second Estates enjoyed privileges by birth and were exempted from paying taxes to the state.
The nobility enjoyed feudal privileges and collected dues from peasants.
Peasants had to serve the lord by working in his house or fields, or by joining the army and building roads.
The Church collected a tax from the peasants known as tithes.
The Third Estate included big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, small landowners, labourers, and servants.
About 90% of the population were peasants, but only a small number owned land.
Nearly 60% of the land was owned by nobles, the Church, and rich members of the Third Estate.
All members of the Third Estate had to pay a direct tax called taille and many indirect taxes on daily-use items like salt and tobacco.

Key Terms:
Livre: Unit of currency in France, discontinued in 1794.
Clergy: People with special functions in the Church.
Tithe: Tax levied by the Church, comprising one-tenth of agricultural produce.
Taille: Direct tax paid by the Third Estate to the state.
Old Regime: Term used to describe the social and political system in France before 1789.

1.3 The Struggle to Survive

The population of France rose from about 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.
Population growth led to higher demand for food grains.
Grain production did not match demand, leading to a rapid rise in bread prices, the staple diet of the majority.
Most workers were employed in workshops where wages were fixed by employers.
Wages did not keep up with rising food prices, increasing the gap between rich and poor.
The situation worsened when drought or hail destroyed harvests, causing food shortages.
This resulted in a subsistence crisis, which frequently occurred under the Old Regime.

Key Term - Subsistence Crisis: An extreme situation where basic means of livelihood, especially food, are endangered due to factors like poor harvests or high prices.

1.4 A Growing Middle Class Envisions an End to Privileges

Earlier, peasants and workers protested against high taxes and food scarcity.
However, they lacked resources and effective programs to bring long-lasting changes.
Educated and prosperous groups in the Third Estate took responsibility for change.
The 18th century saw a rise in the middle class who earned wealth through overseas trade and manufacturing.
This class included professionals like lawyers and administrative officials.
They believed that no group in society should have privileges by birth.
They supported merit-based society where social position depended on ability and achievement.

1.5 Role of Philosophers in Spreading New Ideas

18th-century philosophers promoted ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy.

John Locke:

In Two Treatises of Government, he opposed the idea of divine and absolute monarchy.

Jean Jacques Rousseau:

In The Social Contract, he proposed a government based on a contract between people and representatives.

Montesquieu:

In The Spirit of the Laws, he suggested separation of power into legislative, executive, and judiciary branches.
Their ideas influenced political thinkers in France and the US Constitution after the American War of Independence.
These ideas were discussed in salons and coffee houses, and spread through books and newspapers.
Such materials were read aloud in public spaces so even the illiterate could understand them.
News of King Louis XVI’s plan to impose more taxes increased public anger and protest against the privileged estates.

Key Term - Tithe: A tax collected by the Church, equal to one-tenth of the agricultural produce.

Section 2: The Outbreak of the Revolution

2.1 Convocation of the Estates General

On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes.
The Estates General was a political body to which all three estates sent their representatives.
It had not been called since 1614.
The First Estate (clergy) and Second Estate (nobility) each sent 300 representatives.
The Third Estate sent 600 representatives.
Peasants, artisans, and women were not allowed, but the Third Estate members were educated and influenced by Enlightenment ideas.
Traditionally, each estate had one vote, but the Third Estate demanded voting by head (one vote per member).
The king rejected this demand, which led to anger among the Third Estate representatives.

2.2 Formation of the National Assembly

On 20 June 1789, representatives of the Third Estate assembled at the indoor tennis court at Versailles.
They declared themselves the National Assembly and took the Tennis Court Oath.
They pledged not to disperse until they had drafted a constitution that limited the monarch’s powers.
Some members of the First Estate joined them, and leaders included Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyès.
Mirabeau was a noble who supported equality, and Abbé Sieyès was a priest who wrote "What is the Third Estate?"

2.3 The Storming of the Bastille

Rumors spread in Paris that the king would use force to dismiss the National Assembly.
On 14 July 1789, angry citizens stormed the Bastille, a fortress prison symbolizing royal tyranny.
The mob killed the commander and freed the prisoners.
The Bastille was demolished, and its stone fragments were sold as symbols of freedom.
This event marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

2.4 Peasant Revolt and Abolition of Feudal Dues

In the countryside, peasants heard rumors that lords had hired robbers to destroy their harvests.
Panic led peasants to attack manor houses, loot granaries, and destroy records of feudal dues.
Many nobles fled their homes and emigrated to other countries.
On the night of 4 August 1789, the National Assembly abolished the feudal system of obligations and taxes.
Tithes were abolished, and Church lands were confiscated to increase state revenue.

May 1789 – Estates General called ↓ Third Estate demands voting by head ↓ King rejects the demand ↓ Third Estate forms National Assembly ↓ June 1789 – Tennis Court Oath ↓ 14 July 1789 – Storming of the Bastille ↓ 4 August 1789 – Peasant revolt and abolition of feudal dues

Section 3: France Becomes a Republic

3.1 Drafting of the Constitution

The National Assembly completed the draft of the Constitution in 1791.
Its main objective was to limit the powers of the monarch.
France became a constitutional monarchy.
Powers were divided among the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
The Constitution began with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
This declaration stated that rights such as liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression were natural and inalienable rights.

Key Term - Natural Rights: Rights that belong to every individual by birth and cannot be taken away by any government or institution.

3.2 New Political System and Voting Rights

The Constitution of 1791 granted voting rights only to active citizens.
Active citizens were men above the age of 25 who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a laborer’s wages.
About 4 million people were eligible to vote.
The remaining citizens were passive citizens, including women.
The Constitution did not give equal rights to all individuals.

3.3 Formation of Political Clubs

Political clubs became an important feature of the French Revolution.
They allowed people to express their opinions and influence political decisions.
The most successful political club was the Jacobin Club.
It was named after the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris.
Members of the Jacobin Club were mostly from the less prosperous sections of society.
They included small shopkeepers, artisans, and daily wage workers.
Their leader was Maximilien Robespierre.

3.4 Changes Introduced by Jacobins

Jacobins wore long striped trousers similar to those worn by dock workers.
They were known as sans-culottes, meaning ‘those without knee breeches.’
They also wore red caps symbolizing liberty.
In 1792, the Jacobins planned an uprising against the king.
On 10 August 1792, they stormed the palace of the Tuileries and held the king hostage.
Elections were held for a new assembly called the Convention.
All men aged 21 and above, regardless of wealth, got the right to vote.
On 21 September 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and France was declared a republic.

1791 – Constitution limits king’s powers ↓ Voting rights only for active male citizens ↓ Rise of Jacobin Club and Robespierre ↓ Third Estate forms National Assembly ↓ 10 August 1792 – Storming of the Tuileries ↓ Monarchy overthrown, king imprisoned ↓ 21 September 1792 – France declared a republic

Section 4: The Reign of Terror

4.1 Rule of the Jacobins

After the fall of the monarchy, the Jacobins under Robespierre came to power.
Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
The period from 1793 to 1794 is known as the Reign of Terror.

4.2 Measures Taken by Robespierre

Robespierre arrested and tried all those he considered enemies of the republic.
Those found guilty by the Revolutionary Tribunal were guillotined.
Nobles, clergy, and even members of his own party were executed.
Laws were issued to set maximum limits on wages and prices.
Meat and bread were rationed to ensure equal distribution.
The use of expensive white flour was forbidden.
Equality was promoted in daily life—people were addressed as “citizen” and “citoyenne.”
Churches were shut down and used as barracks or offices.

Key Term - Guillotine: A device with a heavy blade used for beheading. It was named after Dr. Guillotin who invented it.

4.3 Fall of Robespierre

Robespierre’s harsh policies made him unpopular among people.
He was arrested in July 1794 and executed by guillotine.
After his death, the Jacobin government came to an end.

Section 5: A Directory Rules France

5.1 Formation of the Directory

After the fall of Robespierre, a new Constitution was introduced in 1795.
It denied voting rights to non-propertied sections of society.
The new government was called the Directory.
The Directory consisted of two elected legislative councils.
These councils appointed an executive body of five members known as Directors.

5.2 Problems Faced by the Directory

The Directory faced constant political instability.
It clashed with the legislative councils, leading to corruption.
The political situation remained uncertain.
This created an opportunity for the rise of a military dictator.

5.3 Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte, a military general, overthrew the Directory.
He became the ruler of France and later crowned himself Emperor.

Section 6: The Revolution and Social Changes

6.1 Did Women Have a Revolution?

From the very beginning, women were active participants in events that brought about important changes in French society.
They hoped their involvement would pressure the revolutionary government to improve their lives.
Most women of the Third Estate had to work for a living and lacked access to education or job training.
Their wages were lower than those of men.
To express their interests, women started their own political clubs and newspapers.
About sixty women’s clubs emerged in various French cities, with the Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women being the most prominent.
They demanded the same political rights as men, including voting and holding public office.
Women were disappointed when the Constitution of 1791 declared them passive citizens.
Revolutionary laws established state schools and made schooling compulsory for all girls.
Fathers could no longer force their daughters into marriage against their will.
Marriage became a civil contract entered into freely and registered under law.
Divorce was made legal and could be requested by both women and men.
Women could now train for jobs, become artists, or run small businesses.
Despite progress, the struggle for equal political rights continued.
During the Reign of Terror, women’s clubs were closed, and many prominent women were arrested and executed.
Women’s movements for voting rights and equal pay continued worldwide for the next 200 years.
The political activities of French women during the revolution remained a lasting inspiration.
Women in France finally gained the right to vote in 1946.

6.2 The Abolition of Slavery

One of the most revolutionary social reforms by the Jacobins was the abolition of slavery in French colonies.
Colonies like Martinique, Guadeloupe, and San Domingo were major suppliers of tobacco, indigo, sugar, and coffee.
Europeans’ reluctance to work in distant colonies led to a triangular slave trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
The slave trade began in the 17th century.
French merchants sailed from ports like Bordeaux and Nantes to the African coast to buy slaves from local chiefs.
Slaves were branded, shackled, and packed tightly into ships for a three-month Atlantic voyage to the Caribbean.
There, they were sold to plantation owners.
The economic prosperity of port cities like Bordeaux and Nantes depended on the slave trade.
Despite its cruelty, slavery was rarely criticized in 18th-century France.
The National Assembly debated whether the rights of man should apply to colonial subjects but passed no laws due to business opposition.
The Convention abolished slavery in French colonies in 1794.
However, Napoleon reintroduced slavery ten years later.
Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848.

6.3 The Revolution and Everyday Life

Revolutionary governments enacted laws to bring liberty and equality into daily life.
One major reform was the abolition of censorship, allowing free printing of written material.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression as a natural right.
Freedom of the press enabled the expression of opposing views and debates.
Plays, songs, and festival processions attracted large crowds and helped spread revolutionary ideas like liberty and justice.

Section 7: Napoleon Bonaparte and His Legacy

7.1 Rise and Ambitions of Napoleon

In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France.
He aimed to conquer neighboring European countries and replace monarchies with kingdoms ruled by his family.
Napoleon viewed himself as a modernizer of Europe.

7.2 Reforms Introduced by Napoleon

He introduced several laws to protect private property.
Established a uniform system of weights and measures based on the decimal system.
At first, many people welcomed him as a liberator who brought freedom.
However, Napoleonic armies were soon seen as an invading force.
Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Many of his reforms, including those supporting liberty and modern laws, had a lasting impact on Europe.

Section 8: Conclusion and Timeline of Events

8.1 Conclusion of the Revolution

The French Revolution ended absolute monarchy and challenged the privileges held by the First and Second Estates.
It gave rise to the idea of equality, liberty, and fraternity as the foundation of a new society.
Although it did not ensure equal rights for all—such as women and non-propertied men—it introduced the concepts of democracy and citizenship.
The revolution inspired movements for freedom and justice across the world.

Timeline of the French Revolution – Class 9

1774: Louis XVI became the King of France and inherited an empty treasury due to years of war and lavish royal expenses.

1789 (May 5): Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General to propose new taxes to tackle the financial crisis.

1789 (June 20): The Third Estate representatives declared themselves the National Assembly and took the Tennis Court Oath to draft a new constitution.

1789 (July 14): The people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison, marking the start of the French Revolution.

1789 (July–August): The Great Fear spread across the countryside as peasants attacked manor houses and burnt feudal records.

1789 (August 4): The National Assembly abolished feudal privileges, dues, and tithes through a historic decree.

1791 (September): The National Assembly completed the Constitution of 1791, which limited the power of the monarch and established a constitutional monarchy.

1792 (August 10): Jacobins and sans-culottes stormed the Tuileries Palace, took the king prisoner, and suspended the monarchy.

1792 (September 21): The newly elected National Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.

1793 (January 21): King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on charges of treason.

1793 (October): Queen Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine.

1793–1794: Reign of Terror under Robespierre; thousands of people, including nobles and revolutionaries, were executed.

1794 (July): Robespierre was arrested and executed, ending the Reign of Terror.

1795: A new Constitution was adopted, and a five-member executive body called the Directory was established.

1799: Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and seized power, ending the revolutionary phase in France.

1804: Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France.

1804–1815: Napoleon expanded French control across Europe and introduced modern reforms like protection of private property and uniform weights and measures.

1815: Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled. His reforms and revolutionary ideas had a long-lasting impact on Europe.

1846: Women in France finally gained the right to vote after years of struggle and activism inspired by the Revolution.

1848: Slavery was finally abolished in all French colonies, ending centuries of exploitation through the transatlantic slave trade.