how did the purpose of the meeting of the estates-general in 1789 change?

The purpose of the meeting of the Estates-General in 1789 changed significantly over the course of its sessions. Initially, King Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General primarily to address and propose solutions to France's severe financial crisis, with a specific focus on tax reforms and fiscal issues. However, as the meeting progressed, the Third Estate (commoners), frustrated by the voting system that favored the clergy and nobility, demanded fairer representation and broader political reforms. When their demands for voting by head rather than by estate were refused, the Third Estate broke away and declared itself the National Assembly, asserting its role as the true representative of the French people. This action transformed the purpose of the Estates-General from a financial advisory body called by the king to address economic issues into a revolutionary political assembly determined to reform the entire political structure of France and limit royal authority. This shift marked the beginning of the French Revolution and the move toward a new political order in France, moving beyond discussion of taxes to fundamental changes in governance and representation.