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Chapter 18 Part 5

Chapter 18 Part 5. Russia: Catherine the Great. One of the Greatest rulers in European History. But the least enlightened of the Enlightened Despots Was a German Princess who became queen after the death of her husband, Peter III (1763) She took part in the assassination

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Chapter 18 Part 5

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  1. Chapter 18Part 5 Russia: Catherine the Great

  2. One of the Greatest rulers in European History • But the least enlightened of the Enlightened Despots • Was a German Princess who became queen after the death of her husband, Peter III (1763) • She took part in the assassination • Was helped by army general (her lover) • Peter III dropped the ball in 7 Yrs’ War • Peter the Great had abolished succession of hereditary tsars (he strangled his son)

  3. Called Herself “Daughter of the Enlightenment” • Refused to speak German or Russian at court…only French • She loved French culture • Diderot (The Encyclopedia) lived at her court for a time

  4. 1773 The Pugachev Rebellion • Eugene Pugachev, a Cossack soldier led a huge serf uprising • Demanded an end to serfdom, taxes, army service • All over Southwestern Russia, landlords and government officials were murdered • Catherine needed support of the nobles and gave them absolute control over serfs

  5. New Restrictions on Serfs • Extended serfdom to new areas including the Ukraine • 1785 Catherine freed nobles from taxes and state service • Catherine confiscated land from Russian Orthodox Church and gave it to favorites

  6. Catherine the Great • Nobles reached the height of position under Catherine while peasants were worse off than ever before

  7. Imported Western Culture into Russia • Culturally Russia gained respect of western European countries • Architects, artists, writers, musicians were all invited to Russia

  8. Educational Reforms • Catherine supported the first private printing presses • Before Catherine a few dozen books were published in Russia • After Catherine about 400 published annually • Established a school for noble girls

  9. Other Reforms • Restricted the use of torture • Limited religious toleration • No more persecution of Old Believers • Jews were granted civil equality

  10. The Russian Jews • Had suffered much persecution in the past • Could not be nobles, join guilds, hold political offices • Could not work in agriculture or trades • Were also resented for usuary

  11. Also • Strengthened local governments led by elected officials • BUT The crown was not obligated to accept recommendations from councils • Had constitutions written but never used • Potemkin Villages

  12. Catherine’s Reforms • Only the state and the nobility benefitted from Catherine’s “reforms” • Nobles gained legal and financial security from the state • Serfdom was even more severe: Nobles had complete (life and death) control over serfs • Only Nobles could own land

  13. Territorial Growth under Catherine • Annexed Polish territory with the 3 partitions of Poland in 1772, 1793, 1795 • Gained Ottoman land in Crimea that was controlled by Tartars • New lands to nobles to earn their loyalty

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