Jacques Necker, the finance minister for King Louis XVI of France, wanted to impose taxes on the wealthy members of society, particularly the nobility and the clergy. He believed that by taxing the privileged classes, it would ease the financial burdens on the lower classes and help resolve the fiscal crisis that France was facing in the late 18th century.
Necker’s proposals were somewhat revolutionary for his time because the nobility and clergy had historically been exempt from many taxes. He recognized that this imbalance contributed significantly to the country’s financial woes. However, his suggestions for reform often faced strong opposition from those he aimed to tax, which ultimately led to political tensions and dissatisfaction among various social groups.