Peter the Great and Catherine the Great

Outline: 

Thesis: They were both rulers committed to modernizing Russia so that it could compete with it's European neighbors and while Peter was the first to try to institute western ideas through government and military tactics, Catherine continued this reform and also instituted more cultural reforms; however both reforms took a toll on the peasantry, but in the end it was worth it to hurt the peasantry in order modernize Europe.

Intro: Thesis and general info.
Body 1: Peter's reform
Body 2: Catherine's reform 

Conclusion: tie essay together.

Essay: 

By the late 1600's Russia had fallen behind the Europeans. They were not as technically or culturally advanced. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great both recognized this and tried to change it. Peter ruled from 1689-1725.  He mainly worked to reform the military and government.  Catherine the Great ruled from 1762-1796.  She also reformed Russia, but she focused more on the cultural aspects.  They were both rulers committed to modernizing Russia so that it could compete with it's European neighbors and while Peter was the first to try to institute western ideas through government and military tactics, Catherine continued this reform and also instituted more cultural reforms; however both reforms took a toll on the peasantry, but in the end it was worth it to hurt the peasantry in order modernize Europe.

Peter the Great tried to modernize Russia. Russia had fallen behind the Europeans. They did not have the technology, refined culture, or government systems of the advanced Europeans. After Peter was sent to Kolomenskoe, where he learned Western European tactics and strategies from European soldiers, and after he went on a two year Grand Tour of Europe, where he met monarchs, traveled incognito, and worked as a carpenter on a ship in Holland, he wanted to be like the Europeans. He had learned many things about western European industrial techniques and state administration. He returned to Russia as the new ruler and he immediately started his reforms. He banned men from wearing the traditional Muscovite dress. He built technical schools, simplified the alphabet, changed the calendar, introduced military drafts, changed his title from Tsar to Emperor, and much more.  Peter the Great modernized Russia's military and government, but these reforms caused the peasants to be forced into serfdom in order to pay for the reforms. 

Catherine the Great continued to modernize Russia a few decades after Peter the Great.  She expanded Russia's territory in Europe and increased Russia's influence in European affairs. Catherine introduced more arts to Russia.  She built the Hermitage Museum, funded buildings all over Russia, and started academies, journals, and libraries. When the French Revolution started, Catherine started to stop and even reverse her reforms because she disliked having her policies criticized. Catherine's reforms again took a toll on the peasantry like Peter's did because the peasantry as serfs was again used to pay for the reforms.  

Catherine and Peter both wanted to modernize Russia.  They looked to the Europeans for inspiration and ideas for how to have a better military, government, and society. They both helped Russia to move forward by introducing European government and military ideas and Catherine also improved culture by being a patron of the arts. Peter and Catherine helped to bring Russia up to speed with the Europeans, but their reforms also hurt the peasantry.  The peasants were forced to become serfs in order to pay for the reforms of Peter and Catherine. While this was unfair to the peasants at the time, their suffering allowed Russia to become a better and more modern country, which was important to it remaining a strong country.