Russian political and social reform

Analyze the methods and degrees of success of Russian political and social reform
from the period of Peter the Great (1689–1725) through Catherine the Great
(1762–1796).

Outline:

Thesis- Peter the Great and Catherine the Great had the most considerable impact on Russia between 1689 and 1725 in making Russia a great Western European Power.

1st Paragraph

Peter the Great

Embarked on a Grand European Tour for two years

Met many important people

Got a lot of information about Western European cultures that he brought back to Russia(industrial techniques, and state administration)

Determined to modernize Russia and westernize Russia

Opposed by conservative clergy and nobles who were attached to the status quo during his attempt at a transition

Modernized Russia's military

Organized postal service

Died in 1725

2nd paragraph

Catherine I of Skavronska

Peter II of Romanov-struggled over the terms of succession

Anna Romanova

Ivan VI Romanov

Elizabeth Romanova- banned purchasing of serfs by non-nobles

Peter III Romanov- issued the Manifesto of Rights on the Nobility

3rd Paragraph

Catherine II the Great Von Anhalt-Zerbst

Founding of German colonies on the Lower Volga River

Final Secularization of church lands

Peasants are forbidden to file complaints against their landowners

She publishes satirical journals

Much more progress during her reign

After she dies, the Alexander Palace is finished

Between 1689 and 1725, Russia went through a great change. Not all at once, and definitely not one change after another, but a great change nonetheless. Russia was once a very secluded country that was fine with where they were technologically and culturally, until Peter the Great changed it all. After him came many other rulers, but the only other to make an impacting change was Catherine II the Great. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great had the most considerable impact on Russia between 1689 and 1725 in making Russia a great Western European Power.

Peter the Great came into power after his sister, Sophia was confined to a convent. Instead of settling in Moscow, he went on the Grand European Tour to understand the western cultures. He met many important people along the way, like monarchs and conducting diplomacy. Peter also received a great deal of information about the western cultures including industrial techniques and state administration that he brought back to Russia. Peter's main goal was to modernize/westernize Russia, like the other western European countries already were. He was greatly opposed by conservative clergy and some nobles because of their liking of the already normal status quo. However, this did not stop Peter. He modernized Russia's military and also organized the postal services there. He died in 1725.

The next 37 years were not very successful in westernizing Russia. Catherine I of Skavronska came and went, and nothing happened. Peter II Romanov came and struggled with the terms of succession, but nothing else happened. Anna Romanova and then Ivan IV Romanov came into power, but again, nothing. Elizabeth Romanova banned the purchasing of serfs by non-nobles, but there was no other significant changes. The last of this unsuccessful streak was Peter III Romanov, who issued the Manifesto of Rights on the Nobility.

Then, in 1762 came a new ruler, and her name was Catherine II the Great. She was, like Peter the Great, intent on modernizing Russia. Catherine was there during the founding of Russian colonies along the Lower Volga River. There was also the final secularization of the church lands. The peasants were now unable to file complaints against their landowners. Catherine published satirical journals during this time. There was much more progress during her reign, then the past 37 years. She died in 1796, and during this year, the Alexander Palace was completed.

The only two people who had a great influence on the westernizing of Russia within 1689 and 1796 were Catherine II the Great and Peter the Great. Peter brought on the idea of westernizing Russia. He found out new techniques to make the military better as well. Catherine the Great also brought this goal back, and advanced it some more with the secularization of the church lands. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great had the most considerable impact on Russia between 1689 and 1725 in making Russia a great Western European Power.