The Enlightenment significantly influenced the French Revolution by promoting ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Intellectuals like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu criticized absolute monarchy and advocated for democratic governance and individual rights. Their ideas encouraged the French populace to challenge the status quo and question the power of the monarchy and clergy. Enlightenment principles inspired revolutionary slogans, such as "liberté, égalité, fraternité," and helped mobilize the masses against oppressive structures, ultimately leading to the establishment of a republic. Thus, the Enlightenment laid the philosophical groundwork that fueled revolutionary fervor and action during this transformative period in French history.