Social Science History Chapter 1: French Revolution (Summary of the topic taught as on 20/04/2021)
Resources of French Revolution
Answer Scheme of Practice Sheet 1
Answer Scheme of Practice Sheet 2
Video of French Revolution in a nutshell
Video of Causes of French Revolution
Topic Learnt:
The Abolition of Slavery
The Revolution of Everyday Life
Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
Legacy of the French Revolution
Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to identify the concept of slavery, describe about Triangular Slave Trade.
Students will be able to identify the impact of abolishing Censorship.
Students will be able to identify the reforms introduced by Napoleon Bonaparte and Legacy of French Revolution.
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
- The unwillingness of Europeans to go and work in the colonies in the Caribbean which were important suppliers of commodities such as tobacco, indigo, sugar and coffee created a shortage of labour on the plantations. Thus, the slave trade began in the seventeenth century.
- French merchants sailed from their ports to the African coast, where they bought slaves from local chieftains.
- Branded and shackled, the slaves were packed tightly into ships for the three month long voyage across the Atlantic to the Carribbean.
- There they were sold to plantation owners. The exploitation of slave labour made it possible to meet the growing demand in European markets for sugar, coffee, and indigo.
- Port cities like Bordeaux and Nantes owed their economic prosperity to the flourishing slave trade.
- The National Assembly held long debates for about whether the rights of man should be extended to all French subjects including those in the colonies.
- But it did not pass any laws, fearing opposition from businessmen whose incomes depended on the slave trade.
- Jacobin regime in 1794, abolished slavery in the French colonies.
- However, ten years later, Napoleon reintroduced slavery.
- Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848.
THE REVOLUTION AND EVERYDAY LIFE
- After the storming of the Bastille in the summer of 1789 was the abolition of censorship.
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right.
- Newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures flooded the towns of France from where they travelled rapidly into the countryside and described and discussed the events and changes taking place in France.
- Plays, songs and festive processions attracted large numbers of people which was one way they could grasp and identify with ideas such as liberty or justice.
RISE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
- After the end of reign of terror, directory created political instability.
- In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France.
- He conquered many neighboring countries and placed members of his family on the crown.
- Napoleon saw his role as a modernizer of Europe.
- He introduced many laws such as the protection of private property and a uniform system of weights and measures provided by the decimal system.
- Initially, many welcomed Napoleon as a liberator who would bring freedom for the people. But soon the Napoleonic armies came to be viewed everywhere as an invading force.
- He was finally defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
LEGACY OF FRENCH REVOLUTION
- 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 nineteenth century, where feudal systems were abolished.
- Later, these ideas were adopted by Indian revolutionary strugglers, Tipu Sultan and Rammohan Roy also.
Content Analysis
1. Explain triangular slave trade carried on during 18th and 19th Century. (Tb pg no. 21) (05 Marks)
2. Describe how abolition of slavery became possible in France. (Tb Pg no. 21) (03 Marks)
3. Discuss the impact of abolition of censorship in France. (Tb pg no. 22) (05 Marks)
OR
Describe the effect of abolition of laws of censorship in France. (Tb pg no. 22) (05 Marks)
4. Explain the Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. (Tb pg no. 23) (05 Marks)
Home Work (Please write Practice Sheet 2 as a test and upload on Between Us)
Important Note: Objectives Test of French Revolution will be conducted on Thursday 22/04/2021 and Class Test will be conducted on 23/04/2021) Please prepare for the same.
