Which statement best explains how Peter the Great and Catherine the Great expanded their power at the expense of Russia's serfs? (1 point)
• Both forced serfs to build St. Petersburg.
Both gave nobles more power over Russia's serfs.
• Both forced serfs to fight in the military for 25 years.
• Both created the Charter of the Nobility.
Both forced serfs to build St. Petersburg.
The statement that best explains how Peter the Great and Catherine the Great expanded their power at the expense of Russia's serfs is:
• Both gave nobles more power over Russia's serfs.
Peter the Great and Catherine the Great strengthened the power of the nobility in Russia, allowing them to exercise more control over the serfs. This enabled the nobles to extract more labor and resources from the serfs, further expanding their own power and wealth at the expense of the serfs.
To determine which statement best explains how Peter the Great and Catherine the Great expanded their power at the expense of Russia's serfs, we need to analyze each statement and see which one aligns with historical facts.
Statement 1: Both forced serfs to build St. Petersburg.
This statement explains how Peter the Great and Catherine the Great exploited serfs for labor in constructing the city of St. Petersburg. This is an accurate statement as both rulers indeed utilized serfs to build the city, which served as a symbol of modernization and their desire to westernize Russia.
Statement 2: Both gave nobles more power over Russia's serfs.
This statement suggests that Peter the Great and Catherine the Great increased the influence and control of nobles over the serfs. While it is true that both rulers granted land and privileges to the nobility, giving them more authority, it may not necessarily imply expanding power at the expense of the serfs directly.
Statement 3: Both forced serfs to fight in the military for 25 years.
This statement implies that both rulers compelled serfs to serve in the military for an extended period. While conscription was established and expanded by Peter the Great, it was not necessarily for such a prolonged duration. Additionally, Catherine the Great did continue to use conscription but did not lengthen the service period to 25 years. Therefore, this statement does not accurately explain how they expanded power at the expense of serfs.
Statement 4: Both created the Charter of the Nobility.
This statement suggests that both rulers enacted the Charter of the Nobility, which would have likely given more rights and privileges to the noble class. While Catherine the Great did indeed issue a Charter of the Nobility in 1785, Peter the Great did not create such a document. Consequently, this statement is incorrect.
Based on the analysis, statement 1: "Both forced serfs to build St. Petersburg" is the best explanation of how Peter the Great and Catherine the Great expanded their power at the expense of Russia's serfs.