King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General, the French national legislature, because

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The primary reason King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General was because the French elite, particularly the Second Estate (the nobility), resisted new taxes. The monarchy was in a dire financial situation, exacerbated by involvement in foreign wars (like the American Revolution) and lavish spending. Traditional sources of revenue were insufficient, and attempts to reform the tax system or introduce new taxes were blocked by the nobility, who had significant political power and were largely exempt from taxation. The Estates General, which had not been convened since 1614, was seen as a means to address this financial crisis by obtaining consent for new taxes.

King Louis XVI Called a Meeting of the Estates General