The ideas and principles of the Enlightenment were MOST strongly embraced by members of the 3rd Estate.
The 3rd Estate comprised the common people, including the bourgeoisie (middle class), urban workers, and peasants, who were significantly influenced by Enlightenment thinkers advocating for reason, individual rights, and social contracts. These ideas ultimately contributed to demands for equality, liberty, and a more representative government, which played a crucial role in the events leading up to the French Revolution. In contrast, the 1st Estate (clergy) and 2nd Estate (nobility) were often more resistant to Enlightenment ideas that challenged their status and privileges.