The key problem at the 1789 meeting of the French Estates-General was the representation of the Third Estate. The Third Estate, which represented the commoners and the majority of the population, felt that they were not being fairly represented in the decision-making process compared to the First and Second Estates (the clergy and nobility, respectively). This issue of
representation led to the Third Estate
breaking away and forming the National Assembly, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. They sought more equitable representation and political power in the face of economic and social challenges.
