Final answer:
The bourgeoisie and the sans-culottes benefited significantly from the early years of the French Revolution, with the former gaining political influence and social mobility, and the latter leveraging their support for radical groups to push for economic equality and political representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the period of the French Revolution from 1789 to 1792, various groups benefited from the revolutionary changes. The bourgeoisie, or the middle class, gained significantly as the Revolution led to the elimination of feudal privileges that had benefited the nobility and clergy at the expense of the middle class. The bourgeoisie benefitted from the creation of a society based on merit rather than birthright, which allowed them greater social mobility and the opportunity to gain political influence through the newly established National Assembly.
The sans-culottes, representing the poorer sections of the urban population, also saw some initial gains. They were vocal in their support for the Revolution, driven by their desire for economic equality and political representation, which aligned with the aims of the radical Jacobin group within the revolutionaries. The initial phases of the Revolution also increased the hopes for the abolition of slavery in France's colonies, championed by radical groups like the Girondins.
Furthermore, nations under France's influence, such as certain Italian, German, and Polish territories, experienced a taste of a society where status was not predicated solely on birth, paving the way for future reforms in these regions.