What were the main causes that led to the French Revolution of 1789?

Group the causes into a few clear types. Socially, France was divided into three estates: the clergy (First) and nobility (Second) enjoyed privileges and paid almost no taxes, while the common people (Third Estate) carried the whole tax burden despite being the largest group. Economically, France was nearly bankrupt from costly wars and royal extravagance, and ordinary people faced rising food prices and bread shortages. Politically, kings like Louis XVI ruled as absolute monarchs with no accountability. Intellectually, thinkers like Rousseau, Voltaire and Montesquieu spread ideas of liberty, equality and popular sovereignty, making people question the old order. The immediate trigger was the financial crisis and the calling of the Estates-General in 1789. Together, these social, economic, political and intellectual factors caused the revolution.