How did the French Revolution demonstrate the growing power of public opinion?

The French Revolution serves as a landmark event in the history of public opinion, demonstrating its capacity to challenge and dismantle entrenched institutions like the monarchy.1

By the late 18th century, public opinion had emerged as a powerful "tribunal of ideological appeal." The middle class increasingly identified it not as a collection of individual desires, but as the voice of universal common sense and reason. This shift was facilitated by the wider availability of printed materials, including newspapers and pamphlets, which allowed radical ideas to circulate and sharpen the public's understanding of the "public good".23

The power of this phenomenon was evident in several ways:
* Institutional Pressure: Even the monarchy began to instinctively appeal to public opinion, recognizing its ability to strengthen or weaken institutions.1
* Political Mobilization: Figures like Camille Desmoulins utilized oratory and the press to mobilize crowds, directly influencing events such as the storming of the Bastille.4
* Ideological Shift: Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and Rousseau provided the intellectual framework that allowed the educated public to critique existing power structures, ultimately fueling the revolutionary movement.23