The Causes of the French Revolution The primary causes for the French Revolution can be divide up into two overall reasons, which were the long standing causes and main (biggest) causes, which can and will be broken down even more. They can be broken down into more specific and detailed. The long lasting causes were the ones that had been bothering the French for many years, which made them want the a change. The government was run by LouisXVI, who was an Absolute monarchy in France at that time. Because the Louis XVI had increasingly large powers over France's society, including: National System of Justice, Influence over the catholic church, the right to decree taxa