Analytical Essay Sample on Peter the Great and His Effects on Russia

Analytical Essay Sample on Peter the Great and His Effects on Russia Czar Peter Romanov I also known as Peter The Great took many actions as being the absolute ruler of Russia, Peter impacted Russia positively and negatively through westernization and opening Russia to the west. Overall peter had a positive effect on Russia. Peter’s main goal as Czar of Russia was to westernize his country, He realized that Russia should be westernized to ensure its independence, which was a positive impact Peter had completed. Already fascinated by mechanical inventions, he studied government and ways of the West. He modernized the calendar, simplified numerals, and the Russian alphabet. To make sure Russia had contact with the West, Peter captured the east shores of the Baltic Sea from the Swedish and built a new capital named after himself named St. Petersburg. Peter managed to modernize Russia without borrowing money from the country, so Peter imposed heavy taxes on the citizens, because European men usually were clean shaven, he even taxed Russians wearing beards. All of the taxing that Peter imposed was a negative action he had taken. Peter’s positive actions towards the government were a good thing he did, he had three reforms of government. Local government, which towns were allowed to elect their own government officials. Provincial government, Russia was divided into 8 guberniia, each of the guberniias were lead by a Gubnator who had all of the power in his guberniia. Central government, the central government advised Peter, Peter thought that these reforms of government helped in the modernization of Russia. Another positive thing Peter did was build a church, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, not only was it a place for the people of St. Petersburg to pray, but it was also used as a fortress to protect the area from a possible attack from the Swedes. It was the first church in the city made out of stone, the church stood 404 ft. tall being the tallest building in St. Petersburg. All of the Russian emperors are buried in the church from Peter the great to Alexander III. In conclusion I think that Peter I had a positive effect on Russia, from westernization to his reforms of government, some of Peter’s ways are still used in modern Russia till this day.