The ideals of the American Revolution challenged the existing political, economic, and social structure of Western Europe. These principles also contributed to the first wave of organized feminism in which women in the United States and Europe sought to end overt discrimination and genderism. From the late 1700s into the 1900s, women struggled to gain basic equality under the law and political rights, including the right to vote and hold elected office. Many of the leaders of the first wave of feminism were women from the upper classes, and their priorities and goals reflected their elite backgrounds. They also faced intense criticism for their ideas. Nonetheless, the work of early feminists such as Olympe de Gouges helped pave the way for achievements such as women’s suffrage.