Analyze the causes and consequences of the French Revolution, focusing on the role of Enlightenment ideas, the financial crisis, and the actions of the Third Estate.
The rise of the bourgeoisie during the 18th century had given them more power over France than ever before, leading to a feeling that their rights were being denied by the aristocracy. This was further exacerbated by the Enlightenment philosophy which held that all people are equal, regardless of class or background.

This idea culminated in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille. The people believed they could now take control of their own country and institute reforms based around freedom, equality and democracy. However, this only served to strengthen the grip of the monarchy even more, as it was seen as an attempt at maintaining stability and continuity for the nation.

As the revolution progressed, however, many problems emerged. Firstly, there was no clear plan as to how the new republic would be run; the leaders did not know who should lead, what laws should be made and where the money needed to function came from. Secondly, there was also some resentment towards those involved in running things such as the church. These two factors combined resulted in social unrest and instability within the country, especially after Napoleon's seizure of power in 1804.