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It is true that Peter contributed to the country by expanding the territory of the empire and exploiting its treasures on a large scale. However, for ordinary people, what they feel is more the price paid for this than the honor brought by meritorious deeds. They preferred to return Livonia to Sweden, thereby alleviating the burden of exorbitant taxes. The canal of Lake Ladoga cannot make them forget the thousands of people who died while building the canal. The appearance of the palace standing on the bank of the Neva River can only be seen with their eyes, and the ground cannot fill their stomachs. For them, Peter the Great meant expensive bread, denunciations, torture, a repressed church and expanded serfdom.