Who Is Catherine The Great Reform

Catherine the Great originally named Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst became empress of Russia at 33 after over throwing her husband Peter III. Catherine was actively engaged with the Enlightenment and was up to date with French Philosophes and the Enlightenment. Whilst ruling she often tried to better the lives of others; she wrote a document on reforming the legal system, she developed a better education and arts system and she gave the serfs and nobles more freedom.
Catherine’s first major reform was of Russia’s legal system. At the time Russia’s legal system was based on the Code of Laws which was called inequitable, archaic and inefficient. Inspired by Charles Louis de Secondat, and Montesquieu she supervised the putting together of the “Instruction” which had received lots of praise and acclaim throughout Europe. “It proposed a system granting equal protection under law to all persons, and emphasized prevention of criminal acts rather than the imposition of harsh punishment.” (Catherine II the Great, Keithly). Catherine also
She expanded many of the arts and learning opportunities in Russia. She set up a boarding school for girls from noble families and also set up free schools throughout Russia. (Alexander, ). Catherine knew about what was going on outside of the country she ruled and strived to change the appearance of her country. Catherine also had a theatre built where opera and ballet could be performed. Catherine wrote fiction, memoirs and even comedies alongside a manual for the education of young children; the ideas which she had got from John Locke. (Keithly, ) She had a creative and open mind towards certain philosophies and was always open to new things. She demonstrated her understanding of enlightenment ideologies by deciding to implement better laws and gave serfs more