Catherine The Great

by Bobby O. and Phillip C.

Catherine's marriage to Peter was a big disaster. Peter went over the edge after his illness. He started to play with toy soldiers, and showed dislike to his bride. Catherine responded by studying and reading so this wouldn't bother her. This helped her give progressive ideas to Russia. Peter died later in much pain and Catherine took the throne as empress. Catherine ruled from 1762 to 1796.

Catherine the Great spent most of her time continuing Peter's work trying to modernize Russia. Catherine had many supporters of St. Petersburg. She really enjoyed the French culture and tried to bring it to her land. In 1789, something changed her admiration to fear. The French people were tired of a king, so they decided to get rid of him causing a violent revolution. They executed King Louis XVI and his queen. So Catherine's own people wouldn't try to copy the French, she closed the doors to French influence. This caused Russia's progression towards modernization to cease. Catherine also had to deal with uprising serfs that demanded a better life. Also, many of the French ideas of revolution found their way into Russia. So Catherine had her hands full. She dealt with these uprisings brutally. Many people were executed for their protesting.

Catherine's Russian empire was greatly extended. Her empire controlled the northern post of the Black Sea because of two wars. The wars were against the Ottoman Empire and Crimea. Russia also controlled Poland-Lithuania. This territory was also greatly expanded.