Catherine The Great Research Paper

Life of Catherine the Great What would be your thoughts, at fourteen years old, if you discovered that everyone was pressuring you to marry an unaffectionate, immature prince? Princess Sophia Augusta Fredericka was put into this situation when Empress Elizabeth of Russia sent for her to become the bride of her nephew and heir, Peter III. Sophia took a strong dislike in her husband and therefore helped to remove him from the throne. She then took charge as the Queen of Russia, and changed her name to Catherine the Great. Catherine was loved for the impact she had on Russia politically, economically, and culturally. Catherine the Great was born into the family of Prince Christian, August May 2, 1729 in Stettin, then Germany, currently Poland.
First, she worked hard to bring the sophisticated culture of Western Europe to backward Russia. She imported western architects, sculptures, musicians, and intellectuals. Catherine patronized the philosophies and bought master pieces of western art. When the French government banned the Encyclopedia, she offered to publish it in St. Petersburg. With these countless actions, Catherine won good press in the west for herself and for Russia. Peter the Great westernized the Russian armies, but it was Catherine who westernized the thinking of the Russian nobility. Catherine’s second goal was domestic reform, and she began her reign with sincere and ambitious projects. One major concern of hers was for there to be better laws. Catherine appointed a special legislative commission to prepare a new law code. No new unified code was ever produced, but Catherine did restrict the practice of torture and allowed limited religious toleration. She also attempted to improve education and strengthen the local government. The philosophies applauded her measures and hoped for more to follow. In 1773 a violent and bloody revolt of the serfs occurred. Catherine’s noble-led army was able to end it, but the event was a turning point in the empress’s domestic policy. Catherine had condemned serfdom, but the revolt put an end to any thoughts she may have had of reforming society. The peasants were dangerous and the nobles were her
By 1764, Catherine began working on the education in Russia. “Catherine was concerned with expanding the country’s educational system”. She provided the first Russian schools for women and created elementary schools, secondary schools and universities (Vincent). In 1786 Catherine adopted a plan that would create a large scale educational system. Unfortunately her plan was unable to be carried out but she did add to the number of schools. The arts and science also received a great amount of attention during her reign mainly because she believed them to be important, and also saw it as a way Russia could earn a reputation. Theater, music, and painting flourished with her encouragement. Catherine built marvelous new monuments across Russia: “No other Russian monarch appreciated beauty as much as Catherine; she set the stage for the emergence of a national Russian culture that would emerge as something unique and wonderful in the 19th century” (Scott). In 1763 Catherine created a medical commission which helped to improve the medical conditions in Russia. She encouraged the small pox vaccine and also pushed Russia to produce its own medical and surgical equipment (Panse). A carefree spender, Catherine invested funds in many projects. Over a hundred new towns were built, and the old ones were expanded. Trade had expanded and communications began to develop. Catherine’s achievements,