Page 1 - LESSON NOTES_IX_History_Ch-1_sub topic-6

SAI International School
Session- 2020-21
Class –IX
Chapter-1- History-Topic- French Revolution

LESSON NOTES:

SUB TOPIC (Pg- NOTES
16,17)

 1793-1794: Known as the Reign of Terror.
The Reign of Terror  Jacobins under Robespierre practiced a policy of severe
control and repression.

 Those suspected as the ‘enemies’ of the republic were
arrested, imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary
tribunal. These included ex-nobles, clergymen, members of
other political parties and those who criticized the Jacobin’s
rule.
 They were guillotined if the court found them guilty.
 Robespierre’s government imposed a maximum ceiling
on wages and prices.
 Meat and bread were rationed.

 Peasants were forced to sell their grain at the prices fixed
by the government.
 All citizens were required to eat the pain d’egalite
(equality bread) and discard the use of expensive white
flour.

 All French men and women were henceforth called
Citoyen and Citoyenne not anymore, Monsieur and
Madame.

 Churches were shut down and their buildings converted
into barracks or offices.

 July, 1794: Robespierre was arrested and guillotined the
next day.

A Directory Rules  The fall of the Jacobin government allowed the wealthier
France middle classes to seize power.

 A new constitution was introduced.
 Voting right to the non-propertied sections of the society
was denied.
 The new constitution provided for two elected legislative
councils.
 These councils appointed an executive consisting of five
members, called the Directory.
 The Directory was formed for avoiding the concentration