Peter the Great and Catherine the Great FRQ

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: In his time, Peter the Great succeeded in socially and politically reforming Russia through the building of St. Petersburg and changing Russia's capital from Moscow to his new city; but Catherine the Great was more successful than Peter because she was able to continue Peter's reforms while also expanding Russia's borders.


I. Peter the Great
        A. socially changed Russia
                 1. built a new capital city
                         a. this new city was a center for his new ideas and social life
                 2. brought in Western ideas about art
        B. politically changed Russia
                 1. moved the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg
                 2. the city had a port so it improved Russian trade
II. Catherine the Great
         A. socially changed Russia
                 1. had more art brought into Russia than ever before
                 2. started the Smolny Institute, which admitted young girls
         B. politically changed Russia
                 1. expanded Russia's borders
                         a. founded colonies in Germany
                         b. fully got Ukraine into the Russian Empire
III. Compare: Peter vs. Catherine
          A. Peter brought good changes to Russia such as bringing in Western ideas and having a new             
               capital that exemplified these changes
          B. Catherine brought changes inside of Russia like more art but she was also able to expand
               the Russian Empire's borders; therefore making her more successful


Historians say that before Peter the Great, Russia was cut off from the rest of Europe. Because of Peter the Great and some of his followers, like Catherine the Great, Russia became a European power. There were some other rulers in between these two well-known powers, but none were successful in achieving the goals of Russia. In his time, Peter the Great succeeded in socially and politically reforming Russia through the building of St. Petersburg and changing Russia's capital from Moscow to his new city; but Catherine the Great was more successful than Peter because she was able to continue Peter's reforms while also expanding Russia's borders.


Peter the Great socially and politically reformed Russia for the better. Peter wanted to bring secular ideas from Western Europe to Russia; and he succeeded. He brought the arts, the sciences, and improved military strategies to his empire. He wanted to show off his new improvements of the nation, so he built St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg encompassed the new age of arts and learning that were coming to the Russian Empire, but also set up a new political aspect for the country. His new city was a port city, which allowed for new trade to come into Russia. His city was strategically placed so that Russia could become a world trade power. In hopes of bettering his empire, he made St. Petersburg the capital city. 


Catherine the Great was the ruler who finally made Russia a European power. There were six other rulers between Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, but she was the only one to achieve the success that Peter had wanted. She continued Peter's social reforms by always bringing in new art work and education. Catherine even started the Smolny Institute for Girls during her reign. She also kept his political change of the capital city the same. But Catherine was able to make the Russian Empire a European power through her expansion of the nation's borders. She settled colonies in Germany and was able to completely absorb Ukraine into Russia. Catherine was a ruler who not only bettered her country but built on it. 


Peter the Great and Catherine the Great can both be looked upon as successful rulers in Russian history. But Catherine would have to be known as the ruler with the more successful reign. During his time, Peter was the best ruler Russia had ever seen. He brought art and secular ideas to a country that had been completely secluded from the rest of Europe. Catherine, however, was able to build on Peter's success. She not only bettered her country, but made sure it became a power. Catherine's success would not have been possible without Peter's success, but nonetheless Catherine was the better ruler.


The Russian Empire was fundamentally made a European power through two rulers: Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. Peter came up with the ideas on how to make the Russian Empire succeed, but Catherine put his ideas into full effect. The two rulers seem to come as a package that would not be nearly as successful if you split the two apart. Peter and Catherine both were prosperous in making the Russian Empire a dominate world power.