Under Catherine the Great, beginning in 1762, the Russian peasants and Cossacks again faced increased taxation, heavy military conscription, and grain shortages, as before Razin's rebellion. Peter III had extended freedom to former church serfs, freeing them from obligations and payments to church authorities, and had freed other peasants from serfdom, but Catherine did not follow through on these reforms. In 1767, the Empress refused to accept grievances directly from the peasantry.Raeff, Pugachev's Rebellion, p. 172. Peasants fled once again to the lands of the Cossacks, in particular the Yaik Host, whose people were committed to the old Cossack traditions. The changing government also burdened the Cossacks, extending its reach to reform Cossack traditions. Among ordinary Cossacks, hatred of the elite and central government rose. In 1772, a six–month open rebellion ensued between the Yaik Cossacks and the central government.
Under Catherine the Great beginning in 1762 the Russian peasants and Cossacks again faced increased taxation heavy military conscription and grain shortages as before Razin's rebellion Peter III had extended freedom to former church serfs freeing them from obligations and payments to church authorities and had freed other peasants from serfdom but Catherine did not follow through on these reforms In 1767 the Empress refused to accept grievances directly from the peasantryRaeff Pugachev's Rebellion p 172 Peasants fled once again to the lands of the Cossacks in particular the Yaik Host whose people were committed to the old Cossack traditions The changing government also burdened the Cossacks extending its reach to reform Cossack traditions Among ordinary Cossacks hatred of the elite and central government rose In 1772 a six–month open rebellion ensued between the Yaik Cossacks and the central government