Directly following the Enlightenment period the citizens of each country became more empowered and they felt they should not be suppressed by their governments. In France and Russia the people protested and rioted in response to the government’s actions. The Pugachev Rebellion of 1773 fought for better treatment for serfs (the lower class). It was initiated when Emilian Pugachev claimed he was Tsar Peter III and he began to gather the Russian people together. Pugachev led three million rebels to protest the tax increase on serfs, the tax increase was due to needed funds to accomplish Catherine the Great’s goal of modernizing Russia. The rebellion consisted of serfs, Muslims, miners, city workers, and members of the Russian Orthodox Church.
