What part of the middle class was strongly influenced by enlightenment ideas and why?

The rising middle class in the 18th century was strongly influenced by Enlightenment ideas because it emphasized individual rights, reason, and progress. These ideas resonated with the middle class's desire for social mobility, political participation, and economic freedom, leading them to support Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and social reform. The middle class saw the Enlightenment as a way to challenge traditional authority and promote meritocracy, ultimately shaping their aspirations for social change and advancement.