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How Did Catherine II Changed Russia

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Catherine II once said “Power without a nation’s confidence is nothing” (“Catherine the Great Quote”). Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, was one of Russia’s greatest leaders. Although she was German born, Catherine II looked forward to her chance at ruling Russia and changed the country for the better. She tried to create policies that were in the best interest of the Russian people and would help to westernize her country (“World”). Catherine the Great was responsible for expanding Russia and the implementation of political, education, and social reforms that changed the country (“World”). Catherine II fueled Russia with progressive and modern ideas that threw her country into the future. Catherine II made Russia more modern by expanding …show more content…

One of the most influential of her political reforms came about in 1767, called the Instruction (“Catherine, II”). The Instruction was a major reform of the government system in Russia, not only that but it was full of Enlightenment ideals (“World”). Catherine II borrowed ideas from many Enlightenment philosophers such as Montesquieu, Beccaria, and Adam Smith (“Catherine, II”). She worked on the Instruction for 2 years, but it was never put into effect as it called for a system of government that was too far ahead of its time (“Catherine the Great”) (“World”). Notwithstanding the years spent on the Instruction, Catherine II still managed to create reforms that brought Russia into a more modern age. In the Statute of 1775 on Provincial Government, she sought to eradicate rampant corruption in provincial governments. To do this, she created a system under which provinces were controlled by agents from the central government in St. Petersburg. This idea then spawned an additional law that was modern and democratic in spirit, it called for the help of villagers and townspeople in governing themselves through elected office

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