Introduction
- In Part 11 of this chapter, we learnt about the Role of Women in the French Revolution and Challenges Faced by them. In Part 12 we will discuss Triangular Trade and Abolition of Slavery.
The Jacobin’s fight to End Slavery
- During the Reign of Terror, the Jacobin government ruled France which was led by Maximilien Robespierre. He brought many changes to end slavery in colonies controlled by France.
French- Controlled Caribbean Islands
- Some of the following islands are controlled by France. These islands are located close to the Caribbean Sea:
- Martinique island
- Guadeloupe island
- San Domingo island
- These colonies supplied commodities such as
- Tobacco
- Indigo
- Sugar
- Coffee
The Shortage of Labor in French Colonies
- France and other parts of Europe did not want to travel and work in the French colonies as it was dangerous to travel using ships. Due to this, there was a lack of workers to work in the farms of these French colonies.
- To solve this problem, European traders and merchants started to do slave trade between Europe, Africa and America.
The Triangular Slave Trade
- This slave trade made by European, African and American European traders and merchants is called the Triangular Slave Trade.
- It is called the Triangular Slave Trade because the Shape of the Trade route on the map looks like a Triangle.
- From Europe to Africa, Slave Traders of Europe reached Africa and exchanged Slaves for guns, alcohol etc
- After buying slaves from Africa, Traders shipped them to America.
- In America, the owners of plantations forced the slaves to work on their large farms.
- In Caribbean islands and other parts of America, Plantations produced crops like Sugar, Tobacco, Cotton and Coffee.
- Finally, sugar, tobacco, cotton and coffee are carried from America to Europe.
The Process of Slave Trade
- The slave trade began in the 17th century(i.e. 1600s).
- French traders lived and worked in these France cities:
- Bordeaux
- Nantes
- These traders kept ships for trading purposes.
- From these cities, French traders will travel to Africa.
- When they reached Africa, they would buy slaves from African leaders who captured and kept local people as slaves.
The Inhumane Treatment of Slaves
- Traders tied up slaves using chains and forced them to stay in a crowded space with many people on the ship.
- Traders put marks on slave’s bodies to show they belonged to someone. They heated a piece of metal with a symbol or letter until it was hot. Then they pressed this hot metal onto the slave’s skin, usually on their back or shoulder. They burned their skin and left a permanent mark of cut or burn.
- These slaves will travel for 3 months on the ship and will reach plantation areas in Caribbean islands and other parts of America.
- Once these slaves arrived, they would be sold to plantation owners who owned large farms.
- Slaves helped in fulfilling the demands of Europe.
The Prosperity of French Port Cities
- The slave trade grew in the French cities of Bordeaux and Nantes.
- During the 1700s, there was no opposition to slavery.
The National Assembly’s Debate on Slavery
- The National Assembly wanted everyone to have equal rights whether they lived in France or French colonies. However, they did not make any new laws because they feared that rich businessmen who made money from the slave trade would protest against such laws.
The Abolition and Reintroduction of Slavery
- Finally, in 1794, the National Convention passed a law to free all slaves in French colonies.
- But this law made by the National Convention did not last long. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte Made slavery legal again.
- However, even though the National Convention passed a law in 1794 to abolish slavery, Rich Businessmen forced Africans to work as slaves.
- Slavery was completely abolished by French colonies in 1848.
How changes made by the government can affect various parts of people’s lives such as clothing, language and reading?
Censorship of Monarchy
- During the Reign of Monarch, King allowed French citizens to write books, newspapers, and plays. However, they cannot publish them directly. King’s officials will check them and if they find the written books, newspapers, and plays are not against the king, then they are allowed to publish.
The Revolutionary Government’s New Law
- But, After French Citizens stormed the Bastille fort in 1789, a new law was made by the Revolutionary government. This law states every French citizen has a right to speak and write freely.
The Declaration of Human Rights
- The Declaration of the Rights of Men and Citizens state that everyone naturally has the right to speak and express their ideas freely.
The spread of Revolutionary Ideas through Media
- After this declaration, People used newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures to spread ideas of freedom and equality from cities to the countryside(villages).
Diverse Opinions in the Press
- Additionally, newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures also talked about what was happening and changing in France.
- Because people could publish whatever they wanted, many different people shared different opinions and ideas about what was happening.
- Based on different ideas found in newspapers and books from different groups, People joined and supported the ideas that inspired or convinced them the most.
Plays and Celebrations for illiterate
- Since many French citizens couldn’t read, people organised plays, songs and big celebrations to help them understand and connect with big ideas like freedom and equality easily.
Understanding the ‘Patriotic Fat Reducing Press’
- During the reign of Louis XVI, people made pamphlets. This pamphlet has the heading “ Patriotic Fat Reducing Press”. Let’s try to understand this phrase.
- Patriotic – The King collected taxes from people for the reason that he was very loyal to his own country and wanted to do his best for his citizens.
- Fat Reducing Press- It means to reduce the power and wealth of the king as he was collecting too much money from his citizens.
- Additionally in this phrase, the king was compared to a pig who got fat by taking too much power and wealth from others. People wanted to stop the king from getting fatter i.e. Richer. People captured the king in prison and took his powers away.
- French citizens took actions in the name of Patriotism, which they called Patriotic fat-reducing to benefit their country and their citizens.
Conclusion
- The French Revolution brought important changes in France like
- Right to speak freely
- It ended slavery in French Colonies
- These changes helped to spread ideas of freedom and equality to educated and uneducated French citizens.
- The Revolution showed how new laws and powerful ideas can make life fairer for everyone.
