Unfortunately, these aspirations caused unrest among Russia and Prussia, as well as the Polish magnates, with ties to foreign powers.

Magnate conspirators (Szczęsny Potocki, Seweryn Rzewuski, Franciszek Ksawery Branicki) formed the Targowica Confederation abolishing the provisions of the May 3 Constitution. The guarantor of the old laws' return was Tsarina Catherine II. At the request of the Targowica Confederation, the Russian army entered Poland.