Final answer:
The Enlightenment influenced the French Revolution by introducing the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice and the concept of separation of powers, which empowered the Third Estate to challenge the absolute rule of the monarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Influence of Enlightenment Ideas on the French Revolution
The ideas of the Enlightenment were pivotal in shaping the ideological foundations of the French Revolution. Philosophers of the Enlightenment era challenged traditional authority and the existing social hierarchy by advocating for principles such as liberty, equality, and justice—ideals that resonated with the Third Estate in France. The revolutionary slogan "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (liberty, equality, and brotherhood) underscored the influence of these thoughts. Montesquieu's concept of separation of powers particularly influenced the development of government structures during and after the revolution.
However, it's crucial to note that initially, Enlightenment thinkers did not seek equality for all demographics, such as people of color, women, or the working classes. Still, their ideas laid the groundwork for further egalitarian movements. As the Third Estate lacked privileges and faced societal immobility, Enlightenment philosophers like Locke suggested that people had natural rights and should alter the government if it failed to serve them. This resulted in questioning the absolutist rule of the French monarchy and planted the seeds for revolution.
The French Revolution's legacy impacted not only France but also influenced Romanticism and {u>Counter-Enlightenment} movements, while renovating the concept of individual rights and government structures in broader European and American contexts.