The French Revolution Class 9 full chapter (Animation) | Class 9 History Chapter 1 | CBSE | NCERT

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The French Revolution of 1789 was sparked by public unrest due to economic hardships and inequality, leading to the abolition of the monarchy and the rise of a republic. The revolution also involved issues of slavery, labor exploitation, and the eventual emergence of Napoleon Bonaparte as king.

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  • The French Revolution of 1789 was sparked by economic hardships, social inequality, and political discontent, leading to the rise of the National Assembly and the eventual abolition of the monarchy, culminating in the establishment of a republic and subsequent political turmoil.
  • The exploitation of labor, particularly through the slave trade and colonial practices in the Caribbean, played a significant role in France's economic structure and social fabric during this period, contributing to the tensions that fueled the revolution and subsequent governmental changes.

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Recent questions

  • What sparked the French Revolution?

    Fear of king's attack on people led to rebellion.

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Summary

00:00

French Revolution: Rise of the People's Army

  • On the morning of 14 July 1789, a rumor spread in Paris that the King of France had ordered firing on the people, leading to fear and the formation of a people's army.
  • About 7000 men and women gathered in front of the town hall to discuss standing against the king and decided to loot weapons from government buildings.
  • The people broke into the Bastille fort, killed the commander, freed prisoners, and sold valuable objects from the fort.
  • Following this incident, battles erupted in Paris and rural areas due to public protests against rising prices of food, clothing, and housing.
  • King Louis XVI faced financial troubles due to wars, debts, and expenses, leading to increased taxes on the public.
  • France was divided into three states, with the first and second states exempt from taxes, burdening the third state with all financial responsibilities.
  • The population of France increased from 2.3 crores in 1715 to 2.8 crores in 1789, causing food shortages, inflation, and a growing wealth gap.
  • The State General meeting in 1789 saw the third state demand equal voting rights, leading to the formation of the National Assembly and subsequent events.
  • The National Assembly passed orders to redistribute land, prepared a new constitution in 1791 limiting the king's powers, and established rights for citizens.
  • The monarchy was abolished in 1792, and France became a republic, with Louis XVI being executed in 1793, leading to a period of political turmoil and executions under the Jacobin Club government.

12:23

French Colonies, Slavery, and Rise of Napoleon

  • French colonies in the Caribbean, such as Martinique and Santo Domingo, exported goods like tobacco, indigo, sugar, and coffee to France, but faced a labor shortage. French traders resorted to buying people from Africa and India, transporting them to the Caribbean to work in factories, and then bringing the produced goods back to France.
  • The National Assembly attempted to abolish slavery, but faced resistance. Robespierre's government closed churches, replacing them with government buildings, and engaged in the buying and selling of laborers. Robespierre was eventually arrested in 1794, marking the end of the Jacobin Club. After the Bastille incident, a law in 1789 allowed freedom of expression in France, leading to the rich gaining power and a new constitution where only the wealthy could vote, eventually paving the way for Napoleon Bonaparte to become king in 1804, who was later defeated in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo.
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