In France their society system was not working. They were under a Monarchy type of government. They had three estates the first one was called the first estate (Clergy), then second estate (Nobles), and then third estate (Peasants) . This didn’t work because the third estate had to pay all of the taxes and they were the least wealthy. After this failed the revolution
began, many leaders quoted the enlightenment thinkers especially Rousseau.
The French were influenced by Rousseau idea of The Social Contract, which stated that the greatest good was right for the greatest number. When the National Assembly was brought together, a declaration of rights was adopted which stated that individuals now had the freedom of speech and press. Each person also had the right to liberty and property. This meant that people had more freedom and they were entitled to what was fair for the majority of people, instead of the monarch being in total control.
There was another enlightenment thinker that they based a lot of their government/ society on, Montesquieu. His idea was the spirit of the Laws, which is the separation of power. Montesquieu labelled England’s three government branches; the executive (the monarch), the legislative (Parliament), and the judicial (the courts of law). In England they had this form of government. Parliament was not satisfied with it. Instead of them being second under the monarch, they wanted more power. In the end the legislative assembly called a meeting and suspended the monarchy. They elected new leaders who were called sans-culottes.
The Enlightenment was a key piece to human advances. This is a time where the power shifted to the peasant people, not that the peasant (third estate) was completely in charge but they had a bigger voice than before. Before this the poor were paying all the taxes and doing all the work, but had no say. The Clergy and Nobles had all the power. This help starts the French revolution. There is some Enlightenment idea still used today. Even though these ideas have failed in multiple times.