External and internal policy of Catherine 2. Features of the internal policy of Catherine 2

Since childhood, the independent and inquisitive Catherine II has managed to hold a real revolution in Russia. Since 1744, she was summoned by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna to St. Petersburg. There, Catherine took Orthodoxy and became the bride of Prince Peter Fedorovich.

The struggle for the throne

The future Empress tried in every possible way to win the favor of her husband, his mother and the people. Catherine spent a lot of time studying books on economics, jurisprudence, history, which influenced her worldview. When Peter III ascended the throne, his relationship with his wife grew into a mutual dislike. At this time, Catherine began to prepare a plot. On its side were the Orlovs, K.G. Razumovsky. N.I. Panin and others. In June 1762, when the emperor was not in St. Petersburg, Catherine penetrated the barracks of the Izmailovsky regiment and was declared an autocratic ruler. After long requests for negotiations, her husband in writing renounced the throne. Internal, foreign policy of Catherine II began its development.

Board Features

Catherine II was able to surround herself with talented and extraordinary personalities. She strongly supported interesting ideas that could be used advantageously for their own purposes. With the subjects, the empress behaved tactfully and with restraint, had the gift to listen to the interlocutor. But Catherine II loved power and could go to any extremes, just to keep her.

The Empress supported the Orthodox Church, but she did not refuse to use religion in politics. She allowed to build Protestant and Catholic churches, and even mosques. But the transition from Orthodoxy to another religion was still punished.

The internal policy of Catherine 2 (briefly)

The Empress chose three postulates on which her activities were based: consistency, gradualness and consideration of public sentiments. Catherine in words was a supporter of the abolition of serfdom, but led a policy of supporting the nobility. She established the number of people in each province (the population should not be more than 400 thousand), and in the county (up to 30 thousand). In connection with this division, many cities were built. In each provincial center, a number of government agencies were organized. These are such as the main provincial institution - the Office - with the governor at the head, the Criminal and Civil Chambers, the financial management body (the Treasury Chamber). Also were established: the Upper Zemstvo Court, the Provincial Magistrate and the Upper Reach. They served as courts for different classes and consisted of chairmen and assessors. An organ was created for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, which was called the Co-operative Court. Here also dealt with insane criminals. Problems of the organization of schools, shelters and almshouses were handled by the Order of Public Charity.

Political reforms in the counties

The internal policy of Catherine II influenced the city. There also appeared a number of boards. Thus, the Lower Zemstvo court was responsible for the activities of the police and administration. The county court was subordinate to the Upper Zemsky court and examined the affairs of the nobles. The place in which the townspeople were tried was the City Magistrate. To solve the problems of the peasants, the Lower Massacre was created.

Control over the correctness of the implementation of the law was vested in the provincial prosecutor and two solicitors. The governor-general followed the activities of several provinces and could directly appeal to the empress. The internal politics of Catherine 2, the table of estates are described in many historical books.

Judicial reform

In 1775, a new system for resolving disputes was established. In each class of problems, the judiciary has decided. All the courts, except for the Lower Massacre, were elected. Upper Zemsky considered the affairs of the landlords, and peasant quarrels (if the peasant was a state farmer) were engaged in the Upper and Lower Massacres. Disputes of the serfs were analyzed by the landowner. As for the clerics, only bishops in the provincial consistories could judge them. The Senate became the Supreme Judiciary.

Municipal reform

The Empress strove to create local organizations for each class, giving them the right to self-government. In 1766, Catherine II presented the Manifesto on the formation of a commission to resolve local issues. Under the leadership of the chairman of the society of the nobles and the elective head for the city, the election of deputies took place, as well as the transfer of orders to them. As a result, a number of legislative acts emerged that enshrined certain rules of local self-government. The nobility was entitled to elect the county and provincial chairmen, the secretary, the district judge and assessors and other managers. The management of the municipal economy involved two thoughts: General and Six-word. The former had the right to issue orders in this area. The chairman was the mayor of the city. The general thought was collected as necessary. The six-voiced was going to every day. It was the executive body and consisted of six representatives of each class and mayor. There was still the City Duma, which met once every three years. This body had the right to elect the Six-Ball Duma.

The internal policy of Catherine 2 did not ignore the police. In 1782, she created a decree that regulated the structure of law enforcement agencies, their activities, as well as the system of punishments.

Life of the nobility

The internal policy of Catherine II alongside documents legally confirmed the advantageous position of this class. To execute a nobleman or take away his property was possible only after a grave crime committed by him. The court verdict was necessarily agreed with the empress. The nobleman could not be subjected to physical punishment. In addition to disposing of the destinies of the peasants and the affairs of the estate, a representative of the estate could freely travel abroad, direct his complaints immediately to the Governor-General. The external and internal policy of Catherine II was based on the interests of the estate.

The rights of low-income representatives were slightly impaired. Thus, an individual with a certain property qualification could take part in the provincial gentry assemblies. This also involved approval for the position, in which case the additional income should be at least 100 rubles a year.

Economic reform

In 1775, the Manifesto was read out, in which everyone was allowed to "voluntarily start up all kinds of camps and produce all kinds of handicrafts on them, without requiring any other permission" from both local and higher authorities. The exception was the mining business, which existed in the form of state business until 1861, as well as enterprises serving the army. The events carried out contributed to the growth of the merchant economy. This estate took an active part in the formation of new production and enterprises. Thanks to the merchant class, the linen industry began to develop, later becoming a textile division. Catherine II in 1775 established three merchant guilds, which were divided among themselves according to the available capital. With each association, a fee of 1% was withdrawn from the capital, which was declared and not verified. In 1785 a charter was read out, which stated that merchants had the right to participate in local government and the court, they were exempt from corporal punishment. Privileges applied only to the first and second guilds, and in return it was required to increase the size of the declared capital.

The internal policy of Catherine II concerned rural residents. They were allowed to practice their craft and sell the products they received. Peasants traded in the churchyards, but were limited in the implementation of many trade operations. Nobles could organize fairs and sell them on them, but they had no right to build factories in cities. This class sought to push the merchants in every possible way and capture the textile and distillery industries. And they gradually succeeded, since by the beginning of the 19th century, 74 noblemen had factories at their disposal, and merchants at the head of enterprises were only twelve.

Catherine II opened the Assignation Bank, which was created for the successful activity of the upper classes. The financial organization accepted contributions, conducted emissions, and recorded bills of exchange. The result of active actions was the merger of the silver ruble and the banknote.

Reforms of education, culture and science

Features of the internal policy of Catherine 2 in these areas were as follows:

1. On the instructions of the Empress, the teacher I.I. Betsky developed the "General Institution of the education of both sexes of youth." On its basis were opened the Society of Noble Maidens (Smolny Institute), a commercial college and an educational institution under the Academy of Arts. In 1782, the Commission for the Establishment of Schools for School Reform was formed. Its plan was developed by the Austrian teacher F.I. Jankovic. In the course of the reform in the cities, for all comers, popular schools were opened-the main and the small ones. The institutions were held at the expense of the state. Under Catherine II, the Medical College, the Mining School and other educational institutions were opened.
2. The successful internal policy of Catherine II of 1762-1796 gave impetus to the development of science. In 1765, the organization Free Economic Society appeared, which was intended to expand knowledge in the geography of the country. In the period from 1768 to 1774, scientists of the Academy of Sciences participated in five expeditions. Thanks to such campaigns, knowledge was expanded not only in the field of geography, but also in biology and other natural sciences. In the 1980s, the Russian Academy for the Study of Language and Literature was built. During the reign of Catherine II, more books were printed than for the entire XVIII century. In St. Petersburg, opened the first public library in the state. Reading books are fond of almost every estate. At this time, education became valued.
3. The internal policy of Catherine 2 did not bypass the appearance of the high society. Active social life in the higher circles obliged ladies and gentlemen to follow the fashion. In 1779, the magazine "Fashionable monthly essay, or Library for ladies' toilet" began to publish examples of new clothes. The decree of 1782 obliged the nobility to wear suits in accordance with the colors of the coat of arms of their province. Two years later, the demand was added to this order - a certain cut of uniform.

Foreign policy

Catherine II did not forget about improving relations with other states. The Empress achieved the following results:

1. Thanks to the accession of the Kuban region, the Crimea, the Lithuanian provinces, western Russia, the duchy of the Courland border, the states have significantly expanded.

2. The Georgievsky Treaty was signed, which pointed to the role of Russia's protectorate over Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti).

3. The war for territories with Sweden was unleashed. But after the signing of the peace treaty, the state borders remained the same.

4. The development of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.

5. As a result of the Russo-Turkish war, part of Poland's territory was divided between Austria, Prussia and Russia.

6. The Greek project. The purpose of the doctrine was in the restoration of the Byzantine Empire centered at Constantinople. According to the plan, the grandson of Catherine II should stand at the head of the state, Prince Constantine.

7. In the late 80's began the Russo-Turkish war and the struggle with Sweden. The Jassky world , founded in 1792, consolidated the influence of the Russian Empire in Transcaucasia and Bessarabia, and also confirmed the annexation of the Crimea.

External and internal policy of Catherine 2. Results

The great Russian empress left an indelible mark on the history of Russia. Having overthrown her husband from the throne, she held a number of events, many of which greatly improved the life of the people. Summing up the results of Catherine's internal policy, one can not but note the special position of noblemen and favorites at the court. The Empress in every possible way supported this estate and her beloved associates.

The internal policy of Catherine 2, briefly if we describe it, has the following main aspects. Thanks to the decisive actions of the empress, the territory of the Russian Empire has increased significantly. The population in the country began to strive for education. The first schools for peasants appeared. Questions were resolved on the management of counties and provinces. The Empress helped Russia to become one of the great European states.