Evaluate Catherine II's Contribution to Westernization
Catherine's Rise to Power
- took the throne after marrying Peter the Great's grandson and sidestepping him to get into a position of power
- placed herself as ruler- supported by nobles
- continued Peter the Great's westernization until it threatened the tsars autocracy
Catherine II (Catherine the Great)
- tried to increase efficiency of bureacracy by appointing modern, western-style educated officials
- oragnized empire into 50 administrative provinces- each supervised by a governor general
- explicated rights of nobles and urban classes in Charter of Nobility and Charter of Towns
- encouraged nobles to travel to Western Europe- some educated officials knew French
- liked philosophies of the Enlightenment but didn't implement for fear of losing control over subjects
- wanted to improve subjects' lives without diminishing her own power
- restricted punishment on serfs
Pugachev's Rebellion
- Pugachev (cossack) along with peasants, serfs and other cossacks rebelled demanding an end of taxes, government supervision, and military draft
- wanted to possess own land and elect own leaders
- killed many nobles, officials
- rebellion taken down by imperial army, Pugachev killed
The End of Reform
- Catherine shaken up by rebellion
- Tightened grip on Russia
- French Revolution ended her interest in reform and westernization
- Adopted conservative policies similar to China