Alexa Birckbichler

Burke
December 16, 2016
Honors World History: 10
Catherine the Great Toast
Catherine the Great was a revered and strong leader. She accomplished many things during her
time on the throne. She made meticulous yet gallant actions to ensure Russia's ultimate success.
She made efforts to better the empire not only for herself but with the peoples interest in mind.
Beginning her commencement into the Royal Russian court Catherine switched her faith to
Russian orthodox to better understand, and progress her relationship with her new family, and
Russian empire, even against her fathers wishes. These immediate actions show the commitment
she had to her current empire. She was willing to sacrifice the faith of her family, to make things
peaceful within the empire. These actions of putting the empire before herself will continue all
throughout her reign. As her husband assumed the throne, he angered many groups including the
Orthodox Church by taking away their land. After many months of being under his rule, a
rebellion group overthrew and killed him. When Catherine came into rule, one of her first actions
was giving the church back their land, although with reduced power. This established her
dominance but also her fair-minded attitude toward her people. Immediately she makes allies
and shows she is different than her simple minded husband. She was an absolute ruler but made
actions towards social and political reform (history.com) Many of her actions were done with
the intent to better the kingdom for everyone, rather than just for herself. One example of this,
occurred when she put together the document of Nakaz. Before finalizing this document she
brought delegates together from different social and economic classes to form the Legislative
Commission, which met for the first time in 1767. Ultimately, the Nakaz became more known
for its ideas rather than its immediate influence (history.com) Although no actual decisions were

made, this conference had such diverse groups, it gave Catherine a glimpse of all the different
concerns and attitudes of the people. This doesn't just make her different from other absolute
rulers it makes her superior. Catherine takes the time to hear the people out and by doing that, it
furthers their willingness to respect her as a ruler. Unlike her husband and other absolute rulers,
she makes decisions with the input of others and not just her own opinion. She makes it clear
that she was going to be solely in charge, but also makes aware she was willing to work with the
people. Catherine was a new kind of absolute ruler. In spite of her reign starting out seemingly
dormant, I believe she was familiarizing herself with the empire and surrounding rulers. After a
time period of letting the dust settle, the first significant change she made was assisting Russia to
attain a stronger military force. Though never actually fighting in a war she helped create many
successful battle plans and worked with generals to ensure the prosperity of her army. Because of
her determination, Russia became a top military force. Becoming allies with Poland only
increased her nobility across the lands. She fixed the only problem between Russia and Poland,
bringing a treaty between the two and displaying more of her compromising yet potent attitude.
However peace with Poland didn't please everyone, these actions started a military conflict with
Turkey. Although Catherine had many victories over the Ottoman empire and could have
defeated them, she agreed to a peace treaty which brought new lands into the empire and gave
Russia a foothold in the Black Sea.(biography.com) This tactic showed Catherine's keen
military sense. She saw an opportunity and furthered her tactical thinking mantra by agreeing to
a peace treaty. These gains were a major victory because Russia had been trying for decades to
attain the black sea. It brought further advancements and many upper-hand strengths to Russia.
Her rise in power did not overthrow her realistic capabilities. She stayed consistent with being
for the people, hence why she had not only the support of the military but also the public.

Catherine continued to thrive and her military maintained the title of a top ranking force. Among
Catherine's many military accomplishments she also contributed to major progression in
education. At the time Catherine attained her position of rank Russia was viewed as backward
and provincial by many in Europe. She sought to change this negative opinion through
expanding educational opportunities and the arts (briticanna.com) Catherine stressed the
importance of education for both boys and girls, she promoted equality and made education a
fundamental aspect of life for everyone. It was important that girls got an equal education
therefore, she had a boarding school established for girls from noble families in St. Petersburg.
Although a difficult battle at the time Catherine pushed for equal opportunities for all children,
whether wealthy or poor. She called for free schools to be put in towns across Russia for boys
and girls who could not afford it. Catherine the Great did not only see an importance for
schooling but also put an importance on the arts. She greatly influenced the arts and and is even
considered one of Russias most enlightened rulers by many scholars today. She collected art
and wrote numerous books, pamphlets and educational materials aimed at improving Russias
education system. (biography.com) At the end of Catherines rule, she had expanded the empire
into places that were never before thought possible for Russian expansion. The new Russian
territories were thought to give her empire a new strength and power, that was never before
imagined. She enhanced the education system, through ways that were not made common for
decades after her rule. She was so inherently advanced and beyond her time in the way she ruled
and the ideas she made popular

Work Cited

"Catherine the Great." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 16
Dec. 2016.

"Catherine II." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 06 Oct. 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2016.

@HISTORYUK. "Catherine The Great." HISTORY. N.p., 10 Mar. 2015. Web. 16 Dec. 2016.