The American Revolution was a major catalyst in causing the French Revolution (though the living conditions could have caused the Revolution on its own). The French citizens had been poor and hungry for years, while King Louis, Queen Marie Antoinette, and the rest of the aristocracy lived in luxury. Seeing that the Americans won the war against a seemingly impossible to beat enemy inspired them to take action (and since the French fought on the side of the colonists, they had allies to help them get organized if they needed it after the Revolution).
