No, Catherine the Great did not abolish serfdom during her reign as Empress of Russia.
She expanded serfdom.
Russia abolished serfdom, which was a form of semi-feudal slavery, in 1861 under Tsar Alexander II. This decree freed over 23 million serfs and marked the end of serfdom in Russia.
Catherine the Great ended serfdom in Russia by issuing a manifesto in 1767 that allowed landowners to free their serfs voluntarily. This was followed by further reforms in 1785 that granted serfs more rights and protections.
Yes, Catherine the Great of Russia significantly expanded serfdom during her reign. Although she initially expressed some interest in reforming the institution, her policies increasingly favored the landowning nobility, which led to the further entrenchment of serfdom. By the end of her reign, the number of serfs had increased, and their legal status became more restrictive, solidifying their dependence on landowners. This expansion of serfdom contributed to the socio-economic disparities in Russia that would later play a role in the country's social upheaval.
The Russian nobility weren’t willing to free the people who were in serfdom. Catherine the Great presented the idea to her court and was turned down.
In Russia, at the peak of serfdom in the early 19th century, approximately 23 million people were serfs, which accounted for about 50% of the rural population. Serfdom was a system where peasants were tied to the land and subject to the control of landowners. It was officially abolished in 1861 by Tsar Alexander II, but the legacy of serfdom continued to impact Russian society for years to come.
Alexander II
Serfdom in Russia was formally established during the reign of Ivan IV, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, but it evolved gradually over time. While Ivan the Terrible ruled from 1547 to 1584, the legal framework for serfdom became more entrenched later in the 17th century, particularly with the 1649 Sobornoye Ulozheniye (Code) that solidified serfs' status. By this time, serfdom had become a widespread institution in Russian society.
Serfdom held them back and posed a challenge to their progress.
Czar Alexander II freed the serfs in his empire in 1742. While they were freed, they were still very poor and still worked in terrible conditions.
Catherine the Great attempted reforms to benefit her people, but her actions were flawed in some important ways. The authority and power of the nobility increased at the expense of the serfs, and the condition of ordinary people deteriorated.