Unhappy with this unfair social structure, people in the Third Estate began to call for change. A serious financial crisis in the government also added to the country's problems. The crisis had its roots going back to King Louis XIV many warsand building projects. The French Indian War/ 7 years war and the support given to the American Revolution had only increased the government's debt. To make matters worse, the economy suffered another blow when a crops failure caused bread shortage in 1788.
By 1789 the government was bankrupt (no money). So King Louis XVI was forced to call representatives from all three Estate to meet together and discuss the situation (a meeting of the Estates was called the Estates General which had not happened since 1614). the King was hoping that he could convince the First and Second Estate to agree to pay more taxes. They refused. They wanted to protect their privileges, weaken royal authority, and maybe gain control of the government.