Explanation: The Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania in the late 18th century AD was… not a well-functioning country. Long story short, the elite had captured the checks-and-balances of the government that was meant to provide security against tyranny, but instead turned it towards total paralysis so they could abuse their own wealth and authority with impunity, stripping the polity not only of its ability to reform itself, but also functionally stripping it of the ability even to protect itself.

Obviously, this had never happened before and would never happen again, in Poland or any other country. 😬

After a few decades of ‘enjoying’ Poland-Lithuania as a convenient buffer state that kept the Great Powers from each other’s throats, they decided to carve up Poland between themselves, and despite an effort by Tadeusz Kościuszko, also a hero of the American Revolutionary War, and a good showing from a country already half-dismantled by foreign powers, Poland ultimately would have its independence extinguished for over 100 years.