Question

document 5
lord acton, a professor at cambridge university, suggested another point of view
the condition of france alone did not bring about the overthrow of the
monarchy. . . . for the sufferings of the people were not greater than they had
been before. . . . the ideas of the philosophes were not directly responsible
for the outbreak. . . .
the spark that changed thought into action was supplied by the
declaration of american independence. . . . the american example caused
the revolution to break out.
source: lord acton, lectures on the french revolution, macmillan, 1910 (adapted)
what did lord acton believe caused the french revolution?

Explanation:

From the document, Lord Acton states that the condition of France alone and the ideas of the philosophes were not the direct causes. He claims that the spark (that led to the French Revolution) was the Declaration of American Independence, and the American example caused the Revolution to break out.

Answer:

Lord Acton believed that the American example (specifically the Declaration of American Independence) caused the French Revolution to break out. He stated that the condition of France alone and the ideas of the philosophes were not directly responsible for the outbreak, and the spark that turned thought into action was supplied by the Declaration of American Independence, with the American example causing the Revolution to occur.