Answer:
The French Revolution was caused by two major events:
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment transformed the people’s idea of a monarchy by introducing the revolutionary concept of a Republic. This opened the eyes of French commoners and gave them something to strive for, inspiring them for the revolution that was to come.
The American Revolution
The American Revolution affected the French in two ways.
For one, the French and the British had been enemies for a long time, so when the French saw that the rebelling Americans were beginning to weaken Britain, they began to fund the American revolts. However, instead of weakening Britain, this assistance began to weaken the French themselves. Their treasury quickly dissolved. This forced French officials to tax their subjects more heavily, placing more and more pressure on the common folk.
Secondly, as French peasants began to feel the strain of their increasingly tyrannical government, they looked to the Americans and to their revolution for hope. What they saw planted the seeds for a new revolution of their own.
I just did this part of my course and my teacher loved my answers. I hope this helps you out! Good luck! :)
