Catherine 2 was truly a great ruler. The results of her reign are significant in all areas, although not equal in all.

Mother-serf

The economic course (unlike many other directions) in the domestic policy of Catherine II was distinguished by traditionalism. The empress did not accept the industrial revolution; Russia during her reign remained an agrarian state. The main producers were large landowner farms (the Prussian way of development), where serfs worked. Catherine distributed huge land holdings to the landowners and transferred peasants to them (more than 800 thousand). Russia was a major exporter of products Agriculture(its share in international trade increased in Catherine’s times), but the economy developed extensively.

Industrial production grew more slowly. It was facilitated by the decision to cancel permits for the ownership of “factories.” Metal production doubled during Catherine's years.

In the trade sphere, Catherine the Great pursued a free trade policy. Various monopolies were abolished and protectionist measures were curtailed. But the empress sought to protect the national currency. For this purpose, the exchange of copper for silver was regulated, and the Noble Bank (1770) and the Assignation Bank (1786) were created. Copper money from the reign of Catherine was distinguished by its enormous size - A.V. Suvorov, having received 5,000 rubles as a reward in copper 5-ruble notes, was forced to hire a dray cart to transport them.

Social sphere

In words, Catherine 2 was a supporter of the ideas of the Enlightenment, but in reality she acted as an absolutist. The “main nerve” of her state were the nobles, who never had as many privileges as during her reign. The pinnacle of Catherine’s “liberty of the nobility” is the Charter of 178.

The charter granted to the cities consolidated and expanded the rights of the philistines and merchants. Recruitment was abolished in cities, 3 merchant guilds were introduced, and the rights and responsibilities of different segments of the urban population were clearly regulated.

The empress's religious policy demonstrated tolerance. Property Orthodox Church came under secular control. Worship services of other religions, construction of temples and religious educational institutions. It is noteworthy that Catherine gave refuge in Russia to the Jesuits, expelled from all European countries. But it almost certainly had to do with politics, since the Jesuits are unsurpassed masters of political intrigue.

National policies have actually disadvantaged... Russians. Other nationalities often received privileges. German nobles had more rights than Russians. The Tatars of Crimea and the majority of the peoples of Siberia never knew serfdom. Ukrainians and Poles paid a lower poll tax.

The Empress patronized art, education, and science.

Greatness of Russia

The foreign policy of Catherine II turned out to be very successful. Its goals can be formulated as follows: expansion of the empire, strengthening of international authority, border security, full support of monarchism.

The Empress has many external achievements to her name, sometimes morally and ideologically dubious, but successful in government terms.

1. Russia became an active participant in the three sections of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1772-1795), as a result of which it annexed right-bank Ukraine, a significant part of White Rus', and part of Poland.
2. The victorious wars with Turkey ensured the security of Russian borders in the south and ensured the annexation of Crimea, which immediately turned into an important military base.
3. In the Caucasus, the territory of modern Azerbaijan was annexed (spring 1796).
4. The colonization of Alaska began.
5. Russia supported American war for independence, becoming the initiator of the Declaration of Armed Neutrality (actually directed against English rule of the seas). The point here was not in the republic, but precisely in the seas. Russian ships were among the first to enter the ports of the newly-minted American States.
6. Russia acted as an ideologist and participant in anti-French coalitions directed against the Great french revolution. Within the framework of this policy, Suvorov’s Italian and Swiss campaigns took place. French royalist emigrants were welcomed in Russia.

It is important that Catherine knew how to act in the international arena both by force (the Potemkin-Suvorov army was distinguished by excellent combat capability) and through diplomatic channels.

Introduction

1. Domestic policy of Catherine II

1.1 Power reform

1.2 Economic, social and religious policies

2. Foreign policy during the reign of Catherine II

Conclusion

List of used literature

Introduction

The reign of Catherine II left a noticeable mark on the history of Russia. The policy of the Russian Empress was quite versatile and sometimes even contradictory. For example, her policy of enlightened absolutism, characteristic of many European states of that era and involving patronage of art, did not, however, prevent Catherine II from strengthening serfdom.

Catherine II, born Sophia Frederica Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst, came from a poor German princely family. Catherine was a rather complex, extraordinary person. WITH early childhood She learned an everyday lesson - in order to have power, you need to be able to be cunning and pretend.

In 1745, Catherine II converted to the Orthodox faith and was married to the heir to the Russian throne, the future Peter III. Having arrived in Russia as a fifteen-year-old girl, Catherine perfectly mastered the Russian language, studied many Russian customs, and, of course, thereby achieved the ability to please the Russian people. The future Russian empress read a lot. She read a lot of books by French educators, ancient authors, special works on history and philosophy, and works by Russian writers. Of these, Catherine II adopted the ideas of the Enlightenment about the public good as highest goal statesman, about the need to educate and educate his subjects, about the primacy of laws in society.

Soon after the accession of Peter III, unpopular among the nobility, Catherine overthrew her husband from the throne, relying on the guards regiments. In the first years of her reign, Catherine II intensely searched for ways to establish herself on the throne, while showing extreme caution. When deciding the fate of the favorites and mistresses of the previous reign, Catherine II showed generosity and condescension. As a result, many talented and useful people remained in their previous positions.

At the beginning of her reign, Catherine II continued to implement the policies outlined in the previous time. Some innovations the empress wore private character and did not give any reason to classify the reign of Catherine II as an outstanding phenomenon in Russian history.

It must be admitted that the circumstances under which Catherine began to reign were very difficult: finances were depleted, the army did not receive salaries, trade was in decline, for many of its industries were given over to a monopoly, the military department was plunged into debt, the clergy was dissatisfied with the taking away he has land.

1. Catherine's domestic policy II

1.1 Power reform

Catherine II declared herself the successor of Peter I. The main features of Catherine II's domestic policy were the strengthening of the autocracy, the strengthening of the bureaucratic apparatus, the centralization of the country and the unification of the management system.

On December 15, 1763, according to Panin’s project, the Senate was transformed. The Senate was divided into 6 departments, headed by chief prosecutors, and headed by the prosecutor general. Each department had certain powers. General powers The Senate was reduced, in particular, it lost legislative initiative and became a body for monitoring the activities of the state apparatus and the highest court. The center of legislative activity moved directly to Catherine and her office with secretaries of state.

During the reign of the Empress, an attempt was made to convene the Statutory Commission. The main goal of the commission's work was to clarify the people's needs in order to carry out comprehensive reforms.

More than 600 deputies took part in the commission, 33% of them were elected from the nobility, 36% from the townspeople, which also included nobles, 20% from the rural population (state peasants). The interests of the Orthodox clergy were represented by a deputy from the Synod. The first meeting of the Statutory Commission was held in the Faceted Chamber in Moscow, but due to the conservatism of the deputies, the Commission had to be dissolved.

On November 7, 1775, the “Institution for the management of the provinces of the All-Russian Empire” was adopted. Instead of a three-tier administrative division - province, province, district, a two-tier administrative division began to operate - province, district (which was based on the principle of the size of the tax-paying population).

The governor-general (viceroy) kept order in local centers; 2-3 provinces were subordinate to him. Each province was headed by a governor. Governors were appointed by the Senate. Finances in the province were handled by the Treasury Chamber, headed by the vice-governor. The provincial land surveyor was in charge of land management. The executive body of the governor was the provincial board, which exercised general supervision over the activities of institutions and officials. The Order of Public Charity was in charge of schools, hospitals and shelters, as well as class judicial institutions: the Upper Zemsky Court for nobles, the Provincial Magistrate, which considered litigation between townspeople, and the Upper Justice for the trial of state peasants. The highest judicial bodies in the provinces were the criminal chamber and the civil chamber. The chambers judged all classes. The Senate becomes the highest judicial body in the country.

At the head of the district was a captain-mentor - the leader of the nobility, elected by him for three years. He was the executive body of the provincial government.

Since there were clearly not enough cities that were the centers of counties, Catherine II renamed many large rural settlements into cities, making them administrative centers. Thus, 216 new cities appeared. The population of the cities began to be called bourgeois and merchants.

Instead of the governor, a mayor was appointed at the head of the city, endowed with all rights and powers. Strict police control was introduced in cities. The city was divided into parts (districts) under the supervision of a private bailiff, and the parts were divided into quarters controlled by a quarterly overseer.

Carrying out provincial reform in Left Bank Ukraine in 1783-1785. led to a change in the regimental structure (former regiments and hundreds) to a common one for Russian Empire administrative division into provinces and districts, the final establishment of serfdom and the equalization of the rights of the Cossack elders with the Russian nobility. With the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty (1774), Russia gained access to the Black Sea and Crimea. Thus, there was no longer a need to maintain the special rights and management system of the Zaporozhye Cossacks, who served to protect the southern borders of Russia. At the same time, their traditional way of life often led to conflicts with the authorities. After repeated pogroms of Serbian settlers, as well as in connection with the Cossacks’ support for the Pugachev uprising, Catherine II ordered the disbandment of the Zaporozhye Sich, which was carried out by order of Grigory Potemkin to pacify the Zaporozhye Cossacks by General Peter Tekeli in June 1775.

In 1787, the Army of the Faithful Cossacks was created, which later became the Black Sea Cossack army, and in 1792 they were granted Kuban for eternal use, where the Cossacks moved, founding the city of Ekaterinodar.

As a result of common administrative reforms, aimed at strengthening the state, it was decided to annex the Kalmyk Khanate to the Russian Empire. By her decree of 1771, Catherine liquidated the Kalmyk Khanate, beginning the process of annexing the Kalmyk state to Russia, which previously had vassalage relations with Russian state. The affairs of the Kalmyks began to be supervised by a special Expedition of Kalmyk Affairs, established under the office of the Astrakhan governor. Under the rulers of the uluses, bailiffs were appointed from among Russian officials. In 1772, during the Expedition of Kalmyk Affairs, a Kalmyk court was established - Zargo, consisting of three members (one representative each from the three main uluses: Torgouts, Derbets and Khoshouts).

The territory of Estonia and Livonia as a result of the regional reform in 1782-1783. was divided into 2 provinces - Riga and Revel - with institutions that already existed in other provinces of Russia. The special Baltic order, which provided for more extensive rights of local nobles to work and the personality of the peasant than those of Russian landowners, was also eliminated.

Siberia was divided into three provinces: Tobolsk, Kolyvan and Irkutsk.

In an effort to create the most real guarantees of an “enlightened monarchy,” Catherine II began to work on granting letters to the nobility, cities, and state peasants. Charters to the nobility and cities received legal force in 1785. The charter to the nobility secured for each hereditary nobleman freedom from compulsory service. They were also exempt from state taxes and corporal punishment. They retained the right of ownership of movable and real estate, as well as the right to sue only by equals (i.e. nobles), to conduct trade.

1.2 Economic, social and religious policies

The reign of Catherine II was characterized by the development of the economy and trade. By a decree of 1775, factories and industrial plants were recognized as property, the disposal of which does not require special permission from their superiors. In 1763, the free exchange of copper money for silver was prohibited, so as not to provoke the development of inflation. The development and revival of trade was facilitated by the emergence of new credit institutions (state bank and loan office) and the expansion of banking operations (acceptance of deposits for safekeeping was introduced in 1770). A state bank was established and the issue of paper money- banknotes.

“Catherine the Second” - Medal in memory of the coronation Medal in honor of the Empress. Plan: The Golden Age of Catherine II. Fikke was a kind, patient, inquisitive student. Born Sophia-Frederica-Amalia, Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst. Personality of Catherine the second. Liberation of the nobles. Cabinet 3 Ministers - Senate; A number of colleges were liquidated; 50 provinces.

“Empress Catherine II” - Letter of grant for the title of count, granted by Catherine II. Peter I. “Peter the First - Catherine the Second.” In the villages, the landowner's house is free from standing. 36th. The nobles are allowed to have factories and factories in their villages. 29th. "Enlightened absolutism." Family. Catherine II is a continuator of the ideas of Peter I.

“Catherine 1 and Peter 1” - Catherine (in 1713) and the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals is named (in 1723). The nobles wanted to rule with a woman and now they really achieved their goal. To prevent uprisings, the poll tax was reduced (from 74 to 70 kopecks). Alexander Nevsky. The long wars that Russia waged in the past took a toll on the country's finances.

“The Reign of Catherine 2” - Events in the interests of the nobility of Russia. People's War led by E. Pugachev is a black spot in Catherine’s policy. Under Ekaterina Alekseevna, the territory of Russia, the population (almost 75%), and income increased many times over. Either I will die or I will reign.” The reign of Catherine II left a very significant imprint on the history of Russia.

“Russia under Catherine II” - Levitsky D.G. Portrait of Catherine II. What is the purpose of creating a ceremonial portrait in the era of classicism? T o m e s a n d i n e x p e c t i o n . How do the features of the historical image of Catherine II correlate with the literary image? How objective is the image? historical figure V different types artistic creativity?

“The Story of Catherine 2” - It seemed that the little princess had nothing to expect from fate. Kuban Cossacks. Unknown artist(Roslin-Rokotov circle). She was educated at home. She came from a small North German princely family. Like imp. Soon soldiers from other regiments joined the rebels. Ekaterina and Pugachev.

Domestic policy of Catherine 2

Russia in the era of Catherine II (1762-1796). "Era" enlightened absolutism".

The domestic policy of Catherine II had a number of important features. On the one hand, by the time of Catherine’s accession, the country was experiencing an economic decline, which required a weakening of state control over the economy. On the other hand, the increase in popular discontent (the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev), the revolutionary explosion in France, the liberal ideas of the Russian enlighteners Novikov and Radishchev, demanded gradualism and caution in carrying out reforms. All this did domestic policy contradictory empress. On the one hand, measures in the spirit of enlightened absolutism, and on the other, increased repressive measures.

Based on the ideas of the French enlightener Montesquieu, Catherine II developed the “Order” of the Statutory Commission, in which she outlined her vision of the policy of enlightened absolutism. She rejected the idea of ​​natural law and social contract, believed that in Russia there could only be the power of an unlimited monarch, but not a simple one, as it was before, but an enlightened one, a philosopher on the throne.

Enlightened absolutism is a special type of absolutism, which involved the mitigation of royal arbitrariness through the introduction of progressive political institutions (elements of separation of powers, increasing the importance of an independent court and laws), support for the spread of education, public opinion and self-government. It was inspired by the ideas of free-thinking French philosophers, but in practice it often came down to declarativeness.

Reforms of Catherine II

Reform of public administration and legislation. Reform of central institutions has been carried out. In 1763, the Senate was divided into 6 departments, deprived of legislative functions, and turned into a judicial appellate institution. In 1763-1764, the secularization of church lands was carried out, i.e. lands were transferred to the state treasury. In 1764, the hetmanate in Ukraine was abolished. In 1775, the Zaporozhye army was abolished. The Cossacks are deprived of autonomy in order to centralize the country and unify the management system. In 1767, a Legislative Commission was convened of elected deputies from different places and classes (except for serfs, whose interests were supposedly represented by landowners). Catherine gave the commission the right to develop a draft of a new legislative code to replace the outdated cathedral code of 1649. Many deputies have unequivocally proven their unpreparedness Russian society to the perception of educational ideas. Create laws to eliminate social contradictions, failed. Soon the commission in 1768 under the pretext of class politics. Local government reform. By the second half of the 18th century, the class division into nobility, clergy, merchants, philistines and peasants had become established in Russia. The charter granted to the nobility in 1785 secured the class rights and privileges of the nobles: exemption from compulsory service, from corporal punishment, exclusive right of ownership of land and peasants, the right to pass them on by inheritance, to sell and buy villages, jurisdiction only by the noble court, monopoly on distillation. The charter granted to the cities in 1785 had a favorable effect on the merchant class, freeing its elite from poll tax and conscription. The city estate received limited rights of self-government (divided into 6 categories, the city head and members of the city duma were elected). The charter to state peasants promised by the empress never saw the light of day. In 1725, a decree “Institution for governing the province” was issued. According to it, a uniform system of provincial government was established: governor, provincial government (executive power), treasury chamber (taxes), order of public charity. Courts were created strictly according to the class principle. Administrative, financial and judicial functions were strictly separated. The nobility received the right to create provincial and district noble assemblies and elect their leaders. Provinces were abolished. The country was divided into 50 provinces, in turn divided into 10-12 districts. The administrative-territorial provincial division introduced by Catherine remained until 1917, and the local government system until 1864.

Reforms in the economy. In the economic sphere, Catherine II pursues a policy of “economic liberalism.” It was based on minimal government intervention in the economy and the promotion of free competition. In 1775, the Manifesto on Free Enterprise was adopted, according to which government permission was not required to open an enterprise. In 1765, the Free Economic Society was created to distribute scientific knowledge. The result economic policy became:

The outbreak of war with Turkey was dissolved.

Increasing the use of civilian labor of peasant otkhodniks,

Increase in the number of factories,

Growth of small-scale production,

Increase in the number of fairs,

Development all-Russian market

Russian foreign policy in the second half of the 18th century

The central issues of foreign policy in the second half of the 18th century were:

Territorial: strengthening on the shores of the Black Sea and eliminating the military threat from outside Ottoman Empire;

National: reunification with the Ukrainian and Belarusian lands that still remained under the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

The first issue was successfully resolved during the Russian-Turkish wars of 1768-1774 and 1787-1791. Russia received new lands of the Black Sea region and part of the Azov lands. In 1783, Crimea was annexed to Russia, where Sevastopol, the base of the Black Sea Fleet, was founded.

The reunification of the Ukrainian and Belarusian lands with Russia, which once formed a single whole with Russia, occurred as a result of 3 divisions of Poland between Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1772, 1773 and 1792. Not only Ukrainians (except Galicia) and Belarusian lands, but also Lithuania and Courland.

Sweden tried to take advantage of the employment of Russian troops in the war with Turkey. In 1790, the Peace of Revel was concluded between Sweden and Russia without changing the borders. In 1783, the Treaty of Georgievsk was concluded, according to which Eastern Georgia placed itself under the protection of Russia. Russia's international authority and influence have increased sharply.

Assessment of the activities of Catherine II

Despite the controversial events and processes in the reign of Catherine II, this was a time when the imperial government tried to implement one of the most consistent, thoughtful and successful reform programs in the history of Russia. The foundations of civil society in Russia have been laid. During her reign, the country's population increased from 12 to 16 million people, the number of manufactories increased from 600 to 1200. Russia transformed from a European to a world power.

Pugachev riot

Emelyan Pugachev was born presumably in 1742 in the village of Zimoveyskaya. Military service he started in 1769. Pugachev had the opportunity to take part in the Seven Years and Russian-Turkish wars. In 1768 he received the title of cornet. After this, he decided to retire due to illness, but was refused.

It was this event that became the first in the chain that made the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev possible. He left the troops without permission and for a long time posed as a merchant, hiding. But, in Mozdok, in 1772 he was arrested as a result of a denunciation and sentenced to exile to hard labor in Siberia. A year later, in 1773, he managed to escape to the Yaitsky Cossacks, where he called himself Peter 3 and began preparing the Cossack uprising. Pugachev's first detachment was very small, it included only 80 people.

The rebel Cossacks did not storm the small town on the Yaik River because they had no artillery and moved towards Orenburg. During the campaign, peasants, working people, Tatars, Kalmyks and many others who were dissatisfied with the existing situation joined Pugachev. The significantly increased detachment was able to blockade Orenburg on October 5 (16), 1773. At that time, Pugachev had 2.5 thousand people and 20 guns.

Soon rumors of the Pugachev uprising provoked unrest among peasants in the Orenburg province. The rebel camp was constantly replenished with new people, food, and weapons. Bibikov's corps inflicted a significant defeat on Pugachev. As a result, the rebels lost their guns and were forced to retreat, leaving Orenburg, to the Ural Mountains. After this, the formation of a new rebel army began.

In 1774, Pugachev began a campaign against Moscow. On July 12 (23), he led the army to Kazan. But he was defeated, unable to take the city. Having lost artillery, the army crossed to the right bank of the Volga. This again provoked massive peasant unrest, which only contributed to strengthening the forces of the rebels. Now Pugachev and his army posed a serious threat to Moscow. He published a manifesto for the liberation of the peasants.

Until the end of 1774, the Pugachevites captured: July 31 - Kurmysh; August 3 – Alatyr; August 7 – Saransk; August 13 – Penza; August 15 – Petrovsk; August 17 – Saratov. Only the attempt to storm Tsaritsyn stopped the series of victories. Kalmyks and Don Cossacks separated from Pugachev's army. Pugachev, pursued by Mikhelson's corps, began a retreat to Cherny Yar. After the defeat of his army, Pugachev was forced to flee to the steppes of the Volga region.

The last significant battle took place at the Solenikova gang on August 25 (September 1). Betrayed by his centurions, Pugachev was captured and taken to a small town on Yaik on September 15 (26).

On January 8–10, 1775, the trial of Emelyan Pugachev took place in Moscow. Catherine 2 approved the verdict of the Senate. Pugachev was executed on January 10 (21) on Bolotnaya Square. The execution of Emelyan Pugachev could not erase his actions from people's memory. This is a short biography of Emelyan Ivanovich Pugachev.

1. The activities of Catherine II as Empress of Russia lasted 34 years - from 1762 to 1796. Characteristics of this era were:

• the most significant strengthening of imperial power since the time of Peter I;
• attempts at limited reforms;
• successful wars of conquest, the conquest of Crimea and access to the Black Sea, the liquidation of Poland as a state;
• strengthening of feudal-serf oppression;
• suppression of the peasant war led by E. Pugachev and other popular uprisings;
• liquidation of the Cossacks;
• persecution of dissidents and freethinkers (A. Radishchev);
• brutal national oppression (liquidation of the remnants of self-government in Ukraine, suppression of the national liberation struggle in Poland);
• the rise of favoritism.

The most significant domestic political steps of Catherine II were:

• convening of the Statutory Commission;
• publication of the “Charter of Complaint to the Nobility”;
• publication of the “Charter of Letters to Cities”;
• reform of administrative-territorial division;
• creation of the Free Economic Society.

2. In the first years of her reign, in 1767, Catherine II convened the Legislative Commission. The purpose of the commission was to develop a new Code - the main legal document of the country (instead of the outdated Council Code of 1649, adopted under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich). The Legislative Commission included representatives of the widest strata of the population - nobles, townspeople, Cossacks, state peasants. The new Code was supposed to:

• legally justify and consolidate the serf status of peasants, relying on the achievements of legal thought of that time and the works of “enlightenmentists; give serfdom an attractive legal and ideological “façade”;
• regulate in detail the privileges of classes - nobles, townspeople, etc.;
• install new system government agencies and administrative-territorial division;
• legally consolidate the imperial power and absolute position in society of the monarch;
• identify the sentiments of class groups.

The work of the Code Commission continued for a year, after which in 1768 the commission was dissolved, and the new Code was not adopted. Catherine II’s refusal of the new Code is explained by the following reasons:

• the preparation of the Code caused a heated debate among representatives of the ruling class and there was a threat of violation of its fragile unity;
• the work of the commission did not go in the direction that Catherine II had planned - the very existence of serfdom, as well as imperial power, began to be discussed, free-thinking ideas were expressed;
• the new design of serfdom could cause negative reaction the peasantry, including new riots and uprisings;
• Catherine II decided not to take risks, to leave everything as it was, revealing the mood of class groups.

Despite the fact that the work of the Statutory Commission gave many people the opportunity to speak out on a variety of issues of public life, in general its work had a negative impact on the further development of Russia. During the work of the commission, Catherine II suddenly realized how many enemies she had among the classes, how deeply the ideas of freethinking had penetrated, and also that the position of the autocracy was in reality not as strong as it seemed outwardly. As a result of this, after the dissolution of the commission in 1768, the repressive policy of Catherine II intensified significantly - the persecution of freethinkers, the brutal suppression of social protests, and the strengthening of national oppression. Catherine’s fears were confirmed by the peasant uprising led by E. Pugachev that occurred 5 years after the commission’s work, after which the repressions intensified.

3. In 1785, Catherine II issued two legal documents by decree that influenced further development countries:

• Letter of grant to the nobility;
• Letter of commendation to cities.

The charter granted to the nobility (“Certificate of the rights, liberties and advantages of the noble nobility”) sharply increased the gap between the nobility and all other classes of Russia and gave the nobles exceptional privileges:

• from now on, only the nobles were granted the right to own land and serfs;
• the decree of Peter III on the exemption of nobles from all types of service - both military and civil - was confirmed;
• nobles were exempt from taxes;
• nobles were exempt from prosecution and were subject only to a special court of the nobility.

4. The charter granted to cities (“Certificate of Rights and Benefits to the Cities of the Russian Empire”) improved city self-government, but at the same time consolidated the corporate disunity of citizens:

• all townspeople, depending on their occupation and property status, were divided into six categories;
• a city council was created, in which all six categories should be represented;
• the election of officials was partially introduced, but representatives of the propertied classes received advantages;
• The townspeople ceased to be a single class.

5. Also, Catherine II in the same year, 1785, introduced a new administrative-territorial division:

• the entire territory of Russia, instead of the previous 23, was divided into 50 provinces (later their number continued to grow);
• as a result, the provinces became smaller in territory and there were many of them, which reduced their role and strengthened central power;
• a rigid and subordinate management system was introduced in the provinces;
• the key role in local government began to be played not by zemstvo class bodies, but by bodies of noble self-government;
• all local authorities, including the judiciary, became controlled by the nobles.

6. Even earlier, in 1765, the Free Economic Society was created in St. Petersburg - the first non-governmental economic organization in the history of Russia. The goal of economic society was coordination and cooperation economic development the propertied classes, primarily the nobility; establishing economic ties between nobles; strengthening international trade.

7. Distinctive feature During the era of Catherine II's reign, favoritism began - a regime in which her favorites periodically became co-rulers of the empress, influencing state policy. Favoritism had two sides:

• on the one hand, it gave the opportunity to capable representatives common people move to the very top of public administration (example: G. Orlov, A. Orlov, G. Potemkin);
• on the other hand, he placed favorites above the law, made them uncontrollable rulers of Russia, and often led to deception and fraud, abuse of influence on the empress. For example, G. Potemkin created “Potemkin villages”. In order to strengthen their position in front of the empress, pictures were played beautiful life in the territories controlled by G. Potemkin. Thus, the empress was misled about the actual state of affairs in the country.