Final answer:
The French state evolved from an absolute monarchy to a centralized government with constitutional and representative elements influenced by Enlightenment ideals and revolutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The French state began laying the foundations for a centralized government that transitioned from absolutism to various forms of constitutional and representative governance over time. During the thirteenth century, the French monarchy began consolidating power by replacing local vassals and church officials with royal bureaucrats, creating a stronger central government. This development was notably advanced under King Phillip II who increased royal landholdings that were then managed by salaried royal appointees.
In response to the Enlightenment and growing dissatisfaction among the Third Estate, the National Assembly formed and later declared the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, leading to a constitutional monarchy established by the constitution of 1791. The instability and reform that followed culminated in a series of revolutions, such as the 1848 revolution, which resulted in a society with representative government, fundamental rights, and, eventually, universal manhood suffrage.
These events reflected the influence of Enlightenment philosophers like Locke and Montesquieu, who advocated for natural rights and the separation of powers, respectively. With these societal changes, France transitioned from a monarchy based on hereditary succession to embracing the Enlightenment ideals of Liberté, égalité, and fraternité (liberty, equality, and brotherhood).