The meeting of the Estates General did little to help Louis XVI solve the economic crisis.
The high amount of debt accumulated by previous kings (American Revolution, Palace of Versailles, etc.) made it difficult to give the economy the boost it needed--there simply wasn't enough cash around.
Also, Louis didn't want to give up any of the crown's power and authority just to help out the commoners.
Frustrated with this lack of action, the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly of France (the law making body) in June of 1787.
Hearing the news, Louis had the new National Assembly locked out of their meeting hall. The Assembly moved to a nearby indoor tennis court and took an oath not to disband until they had written a French constitution (hence the "Tennis Court Oath") and created a new government.
Of course, this new constitution would not include the king...