Page 3 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

Goyal Brothers Prakashan
1 French Revolution

INTRODUCTION
l The French Revolution started in 1789, and dethroned the then-existing political institutions,
removed the French Monarchy, and establisheda just, responsible government.
l The siege of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 led to the French Revolution.
• The commander of the Bastille was killed in the armed fight, and the prisoners were
released.
• People hated the Bastille as it stood for the despotic power of the king.

• People protested against the high price of bread.
• A new chain of events began, which led to the execution of the King in France.

1. FRENCH SOCIETY DURING THE LATE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
l In 1774, Louis XVI ascended to the throne of France.

• France treasury was empty because of the war.
• France, under Louis XVI, helped the thirteen American colonies gain their independence
from their common enemy, Britain.
• Taxes were increased to meet regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army,
the court, and running government offices or universities.
• The society of France was divided into three estates.

• The feudal system was part of the society of estates dating back to the middle ages.
• 90 percent of the French population were peasants, but only a small number of them
owned the land they cultivated.
• 60 percent was owned by nobles, the church, and other richer members of the third
estate. The clergy and the nobility, members of the first two estates, enjoyed privileges
given by birth.
• These groups of members were exempted from paying taxes and enjoyed feudal privileges.
• All members of the third estate had to pay taxes to the state, which included a direct
tax, called taille.
• Peasants used to pay a tax called tithes to the church.

• Number of indirect taxes, which were levied on articles of everyday consumption like
salt or tobacco.

History Class IX H-1