Exercise 1

Choose the wrong answer.

1. The main reasons for the emergence of an organized social movement in the first quarter of the XIX century. were:

a) the spread of liberal ideas among the enlightened nobility

b) government reform activities

c) subversive activities of foreign powers

d) indecision of the government in carrying out reforms

e) the entry of young officers into Masonic organizations during the military campaign in France

2. The main participants in the first secret organizations were:

a) officers

b) officials

d) peasants

Task 2*

Read the document and answer the questions.

From the memoirs of the Decembrist M. A. Fonvizin

A two-time stay abroad opened up in me many political ideas that I had never heard of before. Returning to Russia, I continued to engage in political writings of various kinds and dared in my dreams to adapt them to Russia.

Remember the history of France in the decades preceding the foreign campaigns of the Russian army. What political ideas could influence the future Decembrists in Europe?

Montesquieu - the power of the king is a usurpation in relation to the rights of estates and corporations, Rousseau - in relation to the rights of the people.

Make suggestions that in the life of people in Europe it was necessary to surprise the officers and soldiers of the Russian army.

Freedom of action given to people.

How did the position of the French peasants differ from the position of the Russians?

The peasants were no longer under the rule of the aristocracy. The liberated peasants took loans from banks and bought up land.

Serfdom continued to exist in Russia.

Task 3

Choose the correct answer. The first secret society in Russia:

a) Northern Society

b) Southern Society

c) "Union of prosperity"

d) "Union of Salvation"

Task 4

Complete the table using textbook materials.

Task 5*

Prepare a message on the topic "Russian Truth" by P. I. Pestel.

The main provisions of the "Russian Truth", designed to serve as a guide to action after the revolution, were approved by the leaders of the administrations of the Southern Society in 1823. In 1824, the document received its name "Russian Truth or Reserve Letter for the Peoples of Russia, which serves as a covenant for the state structure of Russia and contains a true mandate for both the people and the provisional people's government". Work on it was carried out for about five years, from 1820, from the moment Pestel's report to the Welfare Union on the advantages of a republican form of government over a monarchy. Of the planned 10 chapters, only 5 were written.

The policy document of the Southern Society "Russian Truth" developed by Pestel was quite radical. It provided for the overthrow of the autocracy and the establishment of the dictatorship of the Provisional Government for a period of 10 years as a decisive condition for the victory of the revolution and the implementation of reforms. Serfdom and the estate system were subject to decisive destruction, the equality of all citizens before the law was declared, and a republican system was established in the country. Peasants received land free of charge (50% of all land was intended for peasant allotments). This land was not subject to sale and purchase, it could only be used to obtain the “necessary product”. The other half of the land, which was state-owned and the remaining private, was intended for the production of "abundance" of products. The People's Council was to become the legislative body, and the Sovereign Duma of five members exercised executive power. Control over the observance of the constitution was entrusted to the Supreme Council, elected for life.

Task 6*

Compose on behalf of a member of a secret society in the early 20s. 19th century own program for the reorganization of Russia.

1. Establishment of a republic with the principle of separation of powers. Each power is independent of each other.

2. Destruction of all estates. Everyone can achieve a position in society based on their capabilities, and not on the nobility of the family or financial condition.

3. The abolition of serfdom and the development of entrepreneurial initiative.

4. Granting the peoples the right to self-determination and making an independent decision about being part of Russia.

5. Adoption of the Russian constitution.

Task 7

Explain the meaning of the concepts:

Freemasons are members of a religious and political organization that proclaims the unification of mankind as its goal. The primary Masonic organization is called a lodge.

The Sovereign Duma is the upper chamber of a bicameral institution in the "powers".

People's Veche - according to Pestel's program, the parliament, which owned the legislative power; according to Muravyov's program - a bicameral parliament.

The Supreme Council is the supervisory body under the project of Pestel, consisting of 120 life members and overseeing the observance of the law by the People's Veche and the State Duma.

The victory over Napoleon brought the long-awaited peace to Europe, but did not solve any internal problems of the Russian Empire. The post-war period is characterized by a new direction of civic activity - the social movement. For the first time in Russia they acquired organized forms. The social movement under Alexander 1 laid the foundation of its activities on the foundation of liberal ideas.

liberalism in the country

The ideas of European liberalism spread in Russia during the time of Catherine II, who actively corresponded with such ideologists of this direction as Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, and others. However, later the empress rejected such teachings, rightly fearing that they would damage the monarchical system of Russia.

The liberal movement in Russia received a second wind in 1812. Soldiers and officers who visited Europe returned to their homeland as staunch opponents of serfdom and the autocratic system. The absolute disregard by the authorities of the need to transform the country caused a dull dissatisfaction among the progressive sections of the population. It was in such conditions that the social movement under Alexander 1 was born and began its activities.

Masonic lodges were the first public organizations in Russia. The idea of ​​the emergence of the Masonic movement came from Europe. By the 20th year of the XIX century. members of the Masonic lodges were about 3 thousand nobles, merchants and people of the middle class. Freemasonry gave society the experience needed to organize and operate secret societies.

Basically, under Alexander 1, it is known for such secret societies: the Union of Salvation, the Union of United Slavs and others.

Union of Salvation

This is the first major society. Its founder was A.N. Muravyov - Colonel of the General Staff, hero of the Patriotic War.

The main goal of the Salvation Union was the elimination of serfdom and the restriction of the rights of the monarchy. There were isolated calls for conspiracy and regicide, but they did not spread among most members of the union.

After the decision was made to attract broad public support, the Salvation Union disbanded, and on its basis the Welfare Union arose. The secret society program had its own charter, which was known as the "Green Book". The society was based on the same ideas as before - the overthrow of the autocracy and the destruction of the serfdom. But at the same time, the members of the union agreed to participate in the reforms of the state together with the government, attached great importance to the ideas of upbringing and education. When the government refused to reform the state, the social movement under Alexander 1 was under threat. Successful military coups in Russia prompted the idea of ​​organizing a military mutiny in Russia and forcing the government to make concessions.

Therefore, after the Union of Welfare, new societies were created, which received the names of Northern and Southern.

northern society

Petersburg became the center of the Northern society. E. P. Obolensky, S. P. Trubetskoy, N. M. Muravyov and others became members of the union. According to the program outlined by N. M. Muravyov in his Constitution, Russia was to renounce autocracy and become a constitutional monarchy. He also laid the foundation for the idea of ​​a federal division of Russia into 15 "powers". The rights of the emperor were limited. The personal freedom of the peasants was envisaged, and civil rights were also introduced for every inhabitant of Russia. These theses give an idea of ​​what the social movement was striving for under Alexander 1.

Southern society

This civil formation united officers who served on the territory of Ukraine. The head of the Southern Society is the hero of the Battle of Borodino, Colonel P. I. Pestel.

Under his leadership, a draft Constitution of Russia was created under the name "Russian Truth", but with more radical theses than Muravyov's. Thus, the Russian Empire was to become a republican country, not a monarchy. The state was to be governed by a supreme council and a people's council. The peasants were given not only freedom, but also land plots.

Thus, the abolition of serfdom and radical transformations in the state were the foundations that characterized the social movement under Alexander 1. A table illustrating the brief goals of public organizations is presented below.

Members of secret societies actively discussed real ways to achieve their goals. The result was a decision on a state military action.

Despite the conspiracy, the government had an idea of ​​the threats posed by the social movement under Alexander 1. In 1822, a decision was made to ban all Masonic lodges and secret societies. A few days before his death, the king ordered the arrest of the participants in the rebellion. The unexpected death of the emperor pushed the people to the uprising of 1825.

In the society of the second half of the reign of Alexander I, there was a sharp split: if some joined the gloomy reaction, then others did not break with liberal ideas. It was in these circles of society, under the influence of the great events experienced and the conditions of modern life, that an independent and deep desire for a radical transformation of the entire social and political system of the country quickly matured. Striving for some kind of social activity, people looked for a way out of activity in scientific and literary circles, organized secret societies that pursued political goals. It should be noted that in the first years after its emergence from 1816. secret societies did not have a definite revolutionary character. The political programs of secret societies were the highest point in the development of Russian social thought in the first quarter of the 19th century. The upheavals that followed the war of 1805-1807 served as the strongest factor in the social movement. After 1812, a social movement began to grow in Russia. The reasons for this were: The influence of Russian and French education, the Patriotic upsurge after the war of 1812, the reaction in domestic politics in the 10s. 19th century Reform activities of Alexander I, the beginning of the crisis of the feudal-serf system. The first secret society was the “Order of Russian Knights” by M. Orlov, created immediately after the army returned from a foreign campaign in 1814. In 1816, the Union of Salvation was created on the initiative of A.N. Muraviev. It included S. Trubetskoy, S. and M. Muravyov - Apostles, N. Muravyov, M. Lunin, P. Pestel, I. Pushin and others. They wanted to destroy serfdom and limit autocracy. The union was supposed to support the reformist plans of the government. Due to Alexander's actual refusal to reform, the Union of Salvation was dissolved and in its place arose in 1818 the Union of Welfare. It included about 200 people. The program of the union - "Green Book" - set the task of combating serfdom and autocracy. To help the government, it was supposed to organize the education of the people. Within the framework of the Union, D. Yakushkin and M. Lunin for the first time put forward a proposal on the need for regicide as a result of a conspiracy. The Congress of the Union in 1821 decided to dissolve itself and move on to the creation of secret societies. In 1821, the Southern Society arose in the south, headed by P. Pestel. They were headed by S. Volkonsky and V. Davydov, S. Muravyov-Apostol and M. Bestuzhev-Ryumin. In 1822 at the congress of the society, P. Pestel presented his program - "Russian Truth", which involved the separation of powers, the proclamation of Russia as a republic with a unicameral parliament - the People's Veche, and the liberation of the peasants. At the end of 1821, the Northern Society arose in St. Petersburg, headed by N. Muravyov, N. Turgenev, M. Lunin, E. Obolensky, I. Pushchin played an important role in it. In 1823 K. Ryleev joined the society and became its leader, and N. Muravyov concentrated his efforts on creating a program document - the Constitution, which stated that Russia was becoming a constitutional monarchy, the emperor was the head of the executive branch, the release of the peasants for ransom with a small allotment, although the Society were secret, information about them reached Alexander. And the emperor began the persecution of secret societies. In 1822 Freemasons were banned. The first arrests took place only on the eve of the uprising.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century. Russia emerged victorious from the difficult confrontation of Napoleonic France and contributed to the liberation from foreign domination of some European peoples. However, successes also had a downside: the existing system was mothballed in the country, serfdom was preserved. Progress has been slowed down. Under these conditions, the question of the need for reforms was secretly and openly discussed in the upper strata of society. The question of civil liberties for Russia sounded a bit wild, because in Russia the interests of society and the state have always stood above the interests of the individual. These views penetrated into Russia as early as the time of the "enlightened absolutism" of Catherine II.

The second wave of liberal ideas came to Russia during the Patriotic War of 1812 and especially during the foreign campaign of the Russian army. Then, for the first time, thousands of young officers saw that it was possible to live differently than in Russia, and they returned from abroad convinced opponents of autocracy and serfdom. On the other hand, the liberal reform projects of Tsar Alexander I himself, discussed by all educated people, and then Speransky's reforms, also prepared the ground for the active penetration of the ideas of liberalism into the consciousness of the progressive nobility. The inaction and indecision of the authorities in carrying out reforms pushed their most impatient supporters to create secret societies and circles. It so happened that both the government and the advanced circles of society, secretly from each other, hatched plans for transformations that sometimes coincided in their main features.

Secret societies. The first secret societies, which set as their goal the preparation and implementation of transformations, appeared almost immediately after the end of the foreign campaign of the Russian army, the emergence of such societies was facilitated by the fact that many young officers joined Masonic organizations during their stay abroad.

In 1816, the first secret society in Russia, the Union of Salvation, arose. "Union of Salvation" (1816-1818) It was organized by Colonel of the Guards General Staff Alexander Nikolaevich Muravyov. There were 30 officers in the Union of Salvation, almost all of them belonged to titled noble families, all had an excellent education, spoke several languages.

What did these young nobles want, the eldest of whom, Sergei Petrovich Trubetskoy, was only 27 years old? They advocated the introduction of the Constitution in Russia, the restriction of the autocratic power of the emperor and the proclamation of civil liberties. Members of the "Union of Salvation" also demanded the elimination of military settlements. They were staunch monarchists. The conspirators did not trust the people and were afraid of their rebellious nature. The horrors of the people's revolution, they said, terrified them. The founder of the "Union of Salvation" was a young colonel of the General Staff Alexander Nikolaevich Muravyov, and members - S. P. Trubetskoy, S. I. and M. I. Muravyov-Apostles, N. M. Muravyov, M. S. Lunin, P.

I. Pestel, I. I. Pushchin and others (30 people in total).

Awareness of the importance of broad public support for plans for liberal reforms led to the dissolution of the "Union of Salvation" and the creation on its basis of the "Union of Welfare" (1818-1821). It already had about 200 members, it was headed by the same people.

The program of the "Union" was set out in its charter, called the "Green Book". His program was sympathetic not only to wide circles of enlightened officers and the emerging Russian intelligentsia, but also to high-ranking young people - courtiers and officials. The Welfare Union lasted a little longer than the former secret society. In Russia, the Semyonovsky regiment rebelled, and some members of the Union of Welfare who served there were sent to ordinary army units. Two of them, the most revolutionary, - S. I. Muravyov-Apostol and M. P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, ended up in the Chernigov regiment, in Ukraine. In the same place, in the south, P.I. Pestel appeared, who became the commander of the Vyatka regiment.

In essence, the secret society was in crisis. An increasing number of its members demanded decisive action, leaning towards the abolition of the monarchy in Russia and the declaration of the country as a republic, as well as a revolutionary military coup. Others insisted on pursuing a moderate line of reorganization of the country. In 1821, the Union of Welfare announced its dissolution. Both sides decided to go their own way. In 1821-1822. two new societies were created - Southern and Northern. At the same time, national secret organizations were formed, for example, the Patriotic Society in Poland, the Society of United Slavs, etc.

Southern Society. This organization united the officers of the 2nd Army stationed in Ukraine. The leader of the Southern Society was P. I. Pestel. The southern society consisted of three parts. The central place among them was occupied by the "root council" in Tulchin, which was headed by Pestel. It was decided to regularly convene congresses of the governing bodies of the society to discuss urgent problems.

They were held annually at the fair in Kyiv. At the first such meeting in 1822, Pestel's report was heard on the foundations of the constitutional project he had developed.

Pavel Ivanovich Pestel. Comes from the German Pestel family, who settled in Russia at the end of the 17th century. Having received primary education at home, in 1805-1809. studied in Dresden. In 1810 he returned to Russia, studied in the Corps of Pages, which he brilliantly graduated with his name on a marble plaque, and was appointed an ensign in the Life Guards of the Lithuanian Regiment. Participating in the Patriotic War, he distinguished himself in the Battle of Borodino; He was seriously wounded and awarded the golden sword for bravery. Upon recovery, he became an aide-de-camp to Count Wittgenstein. In the campaigns of 1813-1814. participated in the battles of Pirn, Dresden, Kulm, Leipzig (awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 4th class with a bow and the Austrian Leopold 3rd class), distinguished himself when crossing the Rhine (awarded the Order of Karl Friedrich of Baden), in the battles of Bar-sur-Aube and Troyes (awarded the Order of St. Anne, 2nd class), also awarded the Prussian Order of Merit.

In 1822, he was transferred as a colonel to the completely disorganized Vyatka Infantry Regiment, and within a year he put it in order. Alexander I himself, examining it in September 1823, expressed himself: “Excellent, like a guard,” and granted Pestel 3,000 acres of land. Pestel participated from 1816 in Masonic lodges. Later he was admitted to the Union of Salvation, drew up a charter for it, in 1818 became a member of the Indigenous Council of the Union of Welfare, and in 1821, after its self-liquidation, he headed the Southern Secret Society. Possessing a great mind, versatile knowledge and a gift for words (which almost all of his contemporaries unanimously testify to), Pestel soon became the head of society. By the power of his eloquence, in 1825 he convinced St. Petersburg society to act in the spirit of the South. The expression of his views was compiled by him "Russian Truth". This project, written in a republican spirit, can be considered, together with the project of N. Muravyov, the main expressions of the ideas of a secret society, although neither one nor the other had any obligation for members of the society. Pestel himself, according to Ivan Yakushkin, when compiling Russkaya Pravda, had in mind only preparation for activity in the Zemstvo Duma. The most important aspect of Russkaya Pravda was Pestel's reflections on the internal structure of Russia, political and economic, which Nikolai Turgenev called "socialist theories". It was the first integral project of a republican constitution in the history of Russia. Russia was proclaimed a republic.

State administration was based on the separation of powers. Legislative power belonged to the parliament, consisting of one chamber, the People's Council. Class division was eliminated. Control over the observance of the constitution was to be carried out by the Supreme Council of 120 people elected for life. Civil liberties were proclaimed: the choice of faith, speech, press, movement, equality before the law. Pestel proposed to annex to Russia "for the success of the revolution" the Far East, Transcaucasia and some other territories. Serfdom Pestel proposed to abolish. He advocated providing the peasants with enough land.

northern society. This society was created in St. Petersburg. Its main core was N. M. Muravyov, N. I. Turgenev, M. S. Lunin, S. P. Trubetskoy, E. P. Obolensky and I. I. Pushchin. The ideas of the majority of members of the society found their expression in the "Constitution" of N. M. Muravyov.

Nikita Mikhailovich Muravyov (1795-1843) was born into an enlightened noble family. In the first days of the Patriotic War of 1812, he volunteered for the army. He distinguished himself in the foreign campaign of 1813-1814, which had a great influence on him. In 1816 Muravyov wrote his first articles in magazines. He was one of the organizers and leaders of the Union of Salvation. In 1818-1821. Muravyov was a member of the leadership of the Union of Welfare, from 1822 he became a member of the Supreme Duma and the "ruler" of the Northern Society. Russia was to, according to the program of N. M. Muravyov, become a constitutional monarchy. The supreme power in the federation belonged to the bicameral parliament (the Supreme Duma and the House of People's Representatives) - the People's Council. The circle of voters of these bodies was small because of the high property qualification. The rights of the head of state - the emperor were limited. He was supposed to become only the "highest official" of the country, having the right to delay the adoption of the law and return it for reconsideration. The table of ranks was destroyed, and all positions became elective. Civil rights and freedoms were introduced. The “Constitution” of N. Muravyov provided for the abolition of serfdom. However, the land mostly remained in the hands of the landowners. The peasants were supposed to be given 2 acres of land per capita "for their settlement." They could work for the landowner for hire.

Among the members of the secret societies there were disputes about how to achieve the program goals. Their result was the decision on armed action.

Power and secret societies. Despite the secret nature of the organizations, the government had a lot of information about their activities. Among the adherents of the ideas of the Union of Welfare, there were even people close to the tsar, including his young adjutant generals. When, through one of them, Alexander I became aware of the creation of a secret society in Russia, about its program, and even about the composition of the participants, the emperor reacted to this with restraint. "Don't punish me." - He said, and then explained that he himself professed similar views in his youth. But in 1822 a special decree was passed banning all secret societies and Masonic lodges. And since 1823 their persecution began. In the summer - autumn of 1825, when preparations for the performance were in full swing, Alexander I learned not only about the presence of secret officer organizations in the army, but also the names of the leaders of the impending rebellion. A few days before his death, Alexander ordered the arrest of a number of participants in the movement. Already after the death of the king, an order was given for the arrest of Pestel, whom informants called "the main instigator." He was arrested on December 13, just before the uprising.

Social movement at the beginning of the XIX century. under the influence of the contradictory domestic policy of Alexander I, it went through a difficult path in its development from supporting the reform initiatives of the government to hatching plans for its violent overthrow.

Detailed solution paragraph § 8–9 on history for students in grade 9, authors Arsentiev N.M., Danilov A.A., Levandovsky A.A. 2016

Question to point IV. Remember when and for what purpose Yaroslav the Wise's Russkaya Pravda was created.

A short edition appeared presumably during the reign of Yaroslav himself (1016-1054), a lengthy edition - approximately up to and including Vladimir Monomakh. The extensive edition was precisely created as a collection of laws for the whole country. There is controversy regarding the short version. Perhaps this is also a record of customary law for use in courts throughout the state, but according to another version it was intended only to settle a dispute between the prince's combatants.

Question to point VII. What order of succession to the throne existed in the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 19th century? By whom and why was it installed?

According to the order that existed at the beginning of the 19th century, the closest heir was the eldest son, and only in the absence of children - the brother of the deceased. And only in the absence of any male heirs did women have the right to inherit. This order was established by Paul I with his Act of Succession to the Throne of April 5 (16), 1797. The reason for the adoption of such a document was the previous era of palace coups and directly the fate of Paul I, who, being the eldest son of the emperor, did not receive the throne until the age of 42 - until the death of his mother.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 1. Explain the essence of the concept of "social movement".

A social movement is a collective action that focuses on specific political or social issues. That is, the essence of such movements is the desire of a part of society (during the reign of Alexander I, only a small part of it) to change the situation in the country.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 2. What strata of society constituted in Russia from the first quarter of the 19th century. foundation of a social movement?

During the reign of Alexander I, the nobles formed the basis of social movements, and the raznochintsy also played an insignificant role there.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 3. How did the Patriotic War and foreign campaigns affect public sentiment?

The Patriotic War and the Foreign Campaigns stirred up society, raised both liberal and conservative movements in its depths. Many believed that after a grand victory in the homeland, something grand should also happen, although others were convinced that Russia won precisely thanks to its state structure, so changing it would be a crime.

In addition, the Napoleonic Wars intensified the social movement throughout Europe. The foreign campaigns of 1813-1814 should not be confused with the liberation mission of the Red Army of 1944-1945 - the nobles of Russia often went abroad even before these campaigns, sometimes they lived there for years. But the Napoleonic Civil Code was a new phenomenon all over the world, after which the peoples who lived according to its norms, for a long time and most often successfully tried to return them. And the Russian army during the foreign campaigns passed through the lands where this code and other remnants of the conquests of the Great French Revolution were in force.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 4. How did the tactics chosen by the members of the "Union of Salvation" differ from the tactics of the "Union of Welfare"?

The "Union of Salvation", in fact, did not have a clear tactic. They discussed it, but did not really decide anything, although the possibility of a military coup was also admitted. The members of the Union of Welfare relied only on peaceful means of propagating their ideas through the organization of educational societies and schools, and the publication of book magazines. The Welfare Union sincerely believed that the government might need help from their organization and were ready to provide it.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 5. What was the main cause of the dynastic crisis of 1825?

The main reason is the secret that was erected around the abdication of Konstantin Pavlovich. Only a few people knew about this document, and the potential heir was asked to confirm this decision of his. The crisis continued as the messengers traveled between St. Petersburg and the Kingdom of Poland, which was then ruled by the second son of Paul I.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 6. Why didn't the Decembrists tell the soldiers they led to Senate Square about the real reasons for the protest?

They believed that the soldiers would not understand these reasons and would not go against the autocracy, that is, they wanted to lead the whole people to happiness against the will of this people, realizing that no one would support their ideas - even their own subordinates, who loved them, as good soldiers love officers.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 7. Formulate the meaning of the speech of the Decembrists.

Nicholas I, with his military career and before this speech, was inclined towards conservatism. The action of the Decembrists finally convinced him of the correctness of his convictions. Therefore, those who came to Senate Square are partly to blame for the gloominess and retrogradeness of the subsequent reign and for Russia's lagging behind the advanced countries of Europe, caused by this rule. But only in part, since they did not force or even call for this.

On the other hand, the Decembrists for a long time became a symbol of the struggle against the autocracy and self-sacrifice for the sake of the bright future of their country. Not without reason, on the cover of the first issue of the first opposition Russian periodical (the almanac "Polar Star"), profiles of 5 executed Decembrists were depicted.

Question for working with the text of paragraph No. 8. How did the authorities deal with the participants in the Decembrists' speech?

Many died during the suppression of the uprising. The authorities dealt with the survivors very cruelly

Five people (Pavel Ivanovich Pestel, Kondraty Fedorovich Ryleev, Sergei Ivanovich Muravyov-Apostol, Mikhail Pavlovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin and Pyotr Grigoryevich Kakhovsky) were sentenced to hanging, others to penal servitude with subsequent settlement in Siberia. Terms of hard labor were different up to life.

It was another sentence commuted by the emperor. Initially, the court sentenced 31 rebels to beheading, and five who were eventually hanged to be quartered.

Of the soldiers who participated in the uprising (despite the fact that most of them did not even understand that this was an uprising against the legitimate king), 178 people were driven through the ranks with gauntlets (as a result of such a procedure they could have been beaten to death), 23 were sentenced to other corporal punishment. The remaining approximately 4 thousand were sent to the Caucasian War as part of the consolidated guards regiment.

We think, compare, reflect: question number 1. Which of the secret societies' program (the Union of Salvation, the Union of Bliss, the Southern Society, the Northern Society) can you call the most radical? Explain your choice.

The most radical was the program of the Southern Society, because it involved not just an armed uprising, but the proclamation of a republic with the destruction of the emperor with his entire family in order to avoid claims to the throne of heirs.

We think, compare, reflect: question number 2. Based on the text of the paragraph, compare "Russian Pravda" by P. I. Pestel and "Constitution" by N. M. Muravyov according to independently selected criteria.

We think, compare, reflect: question number 3. Prepare for a discussion on the topic “Did the Decembrists have a chance to take power into their own hands and implement plans for the reorganization of Russia?”. Justify your position.

Standing idle on Senate Square with virtually no leadership due to the absence of the alleged dictator Sergei Petrovich Trubetskoy, of course, could not lead to anything good. It only gave the government time to draw up loyal troops and put an end to the uprising.

A more interesting question is what would have happened if events had developed according to the original plan of the Decembrists. Vyacheslav Alekseevich Pietsukh in his book "Rommat" gives a quite convincing answer to this question. Let this book be a novel, but there is a completely historical analysis of the upheavals of the previous century and it is well shown how small forces these upheavals were carried out and how much they depended on a fortunate combination of circumstances. One can agree with Vyacheslav Alekseevich - with the clarity of actions and some luck, the Decembrists could have managed to arrest or kill Nicholas I with his family and force the Senate to sign the "Manifesto to the Russian people."

The question is what would happen next. Rommat briefly says that the authorities in the center of the country would have defeated the local indignations. Apparently, the author himself did not really imagine how this would happen. And you have to represent. The Decembrists did not tell the true purpose of the speech even to their soldiers. But sooner or later this true goal would become known, and then even the reaction of the troops participating in the coup would be unpredictable. The rest of the army would almost certainly have opposed. And in this case, the "revolutionaries" would not be able to keep even the capital, not to mention the whole of Russia.

At that time, the ideas of the Decembrists could not receive wide support in any of the layers of Russian society. The history of the twentieth century is replete with examples when a handful of military men seized power without popular support - the so-called juntas. But for the success of such coups, it was necessary that the army as a whole of the junta supported or remained neutral, and also that the population remained indifferent to the coup or did not have the opportunity to resist the army. In Russia in 1825, most of the officers and soldiers of the army sincerely supported the autocracy - in the name of loyalty to him, they went to fight Napoleon and won. In addition, the nobility, who did not serve in the army, had weapons, fought skillfully and could create a militia from their peasants.

Thus, the Decembrists had a chance to overthrow Nicholas I and perhaps achieve some other temporary successes, such as the capture of the Winter Palace and the Senate building, but it is almost impossible to imagine that they would seize power even in St. Petersburg, especially in all of Russia.

We think, compare, reflect: question number 4. Find out which of the wives of the Decembrists followed their husbands to the place of hard labor and exile. What moral and spiritual principles were they guided by?

The bride of I. A. Annenkova Polina Gobl, the bride of V. P. Ivashov Camille Le Dantu, the wife of V. L. Davydov A. I. Davydova, the wife of A. V. Entaltsev A. V. Entaltseva, the wife of M. M. Naryshkin E. P. Naryshkina, wife of A. E. Rozen A. V. Rozen, wife of M. M. Fonvizin N. D. Fonvizina, wife of Alexei Petrovich Yushnevsky M. K. Yushnevskaya, sister of N. A. Bestuzheva E. A. Bestuzhev. For the majority, this was a feat of loyalty to one's duty and selflessness - as was customary then in high society, most of these marriages were concluded more for convenience than for love.

We think, compare, reflect: question number 5. Make (in your notebook) a list of works of art devoted to the theme of the Decembrist uprising.

Alexander Pushkin "In the depths of Siberian ores";

Alexander Pushkin "My first friend, my priceless friend";

Nikolai Nekrasov "Russian Women";

Alexandre Dumas "Fencing Teacher";

Yuri Tynyanov "Kukhlya";

Nathan Eidelman "The Apostle Sergei";

Nathan Eidelman "Lunin";

Nathan Eidelman "Big Jeannot";

Arnold Gessen "In the depths of Siberian ores";

Maria Marich "Northern Lights";

Victor Zhadko "Rebelled against the Emperor";

Elena Chudinova "December without Christmas";

Film directed by Alexander Ivanovsky "Decembrists";

Film directed by Vladimir Motyl "Star of Captivating Happiness";

The film directed by Baras Khalzanov "There is no foreign land."

We think, compare, reflect: question number 6. “... there is neither a stone nor a cross above them, their grave is the whole island of the Decembrists,” wrote the modern poet A. M. Gorodnitsky. Find out how the search for the burial of five executed Decembrists took place, determine in which of the districts of St. Petersburg the most likely place of this burial is located.

The executed Decembrists were buried secretly, refusing all requests from their relatives to hand over the bodies for burial. Rumors immediately spread among the people about the details, some of which were recorded in different ways. For example, they said that the bodies were thrown into the Gulf of Finland, with stones tied to their feet. But the majority agreed that they were buried, while it was often added that bodies without coffins were covered with quicklime to make identification impossible.

Popular rumor believed that the grave of the Decembrists was on Golodai Island, which is separated from Vasilyevsky Island by the narrow river of Smolensk, and on the other hand is washed by one of the branches of the Malaya Neva, while the third coast overlooks the Gulf of Finland. According to memoirs, it was there that the relatives of the executed (for example, the widow of Ryleev), and other Decembrists who returned from exile, and simply their supporters, came to the grave as well. When in 1862 an amnesty was declared for the participants in the uprising, the St. Petersburg Governor-General Suvorov wanted to erect a monument in the place that the rumor considered a grave. But this project was not implemented.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Goloday was decided to be built up. In this regard, they tried to find and rebury the executed Decembrists. The authorities obstructed these searches. But after the February Revolution, all prohibitions turned out to be irrelevant. And in June 1917, five coffins were found with the bodies of five men - two civilians and three military men, and the most preserved of the uniforms looked like samples from the time of Alexander I. The find caused a wide stir. On the other hand, there were many voices against the fact that these were the bodies of the famous rebels: the coffins were rich, like clothes, and according to the recollections of the convicts, they dressed in shrouds before execution and were buried in shrouds, and not in uniforms.

In 1925, on the centenary of the execution, a large-scale examination was carried out for those poor times. She showed that not five bodies were found, but only four (from many only fragments of bones were preserved, therefore they could not say this right away), and one of the buried turned out to be a teenager of 12-15 years old. The only one of the uniforms that could be identified belonged to an officer of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment of the 1829-1855 model. Excavations at the site of the discovery of coffins have yielded many other burials. That is, in 1917, the diggers stumbled upon an old cemetery, their findings had nothing to do with the Decembrists.

Since then, there have been no new finds. The most popular version of the burial place is still based on rumors from the second quarter of the 19th century. However, despite the fact that in Russia everything is a secret, but nothing is a secret, such rumors do not always turn out to be true.

Nevertheless, despite the negative results of the examination in 1925, in 1926 Goloday was renamed the island of the Decembrists. It still bears this name and is considered the most likely burial place, despite the small amount of evidence and the existence of alternative versions (which, however, are confirmed by even less convincing evidence).

REPEAT AND MAKE CONCLUSIONS

1. Compare the economic development of Russia and the countries of Western Europe in the first quarter of the 19th century, draw conclusions.

The development of the countries of Western Europe has never been the same, especially in the first quarter of the 19th century. In England at that time the industrial revolution was almost over. English industrial because cheap goods flooded Europe. At the same time, Ireland, which was part of the same United Kingdom, was still a backward agricultural land, where the well-being of the population depended on the potato harvest. Not only individual regions, but also entire countries lagged behind England. In France, the industrial revolution at the end of the 18th century had just begun, therefore by 1825 it was still far from complete, and this country was the second most developed after England. Spain remained a backward country, retaining many feudal remnants and extensive church landholdings, which also did not contribute to economic recovery. In many countries, certain forms of serfdom were preserved, which after the Napoleonic Wars only began to be abolished.

Compared with England, from the point of view of a modern researcher, Russia was in a losing position. The industrial revolution had not yet begun there, the use of new machines (like steamboats on the Neva) still occurred sporadically. But in Ireland, for example, the new technology was also little used. True, the cultivation of potatoes had already been mastered in Ireland, which later turned out to be more beneficial for the cold climate of central Russia, but during the reign of Alexander I, this root crop was still very little used. In Russia, serfdom was preserved, but in Prussia, the peasant reform began to be carried out only after the Napoleonic wars. Many feudal remnants, including the class structure of society, survived in Russia, but they did not die out in Spain either. At the same time, significant church land ownership still remained in Spain, despite the inertia of the Catholic Church of that time and its unwillingness to develop new forms of economy, while in Russia the reform of 1764 dealt a decisive blow to church land ownership. Thus, by the end of the reign of Alexander I, Russia lagged only behind the advanced countries of Western Europe. A particularly large lag behind their main part has not yet been observed - it was formed during the reign of Nicholas I.

2. What goals did M. M. Speransky follow when preparing the draft reforms? Analyze the "Plan of State Transformation" by M. M. Speransky.

Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky wanted to start Russia along the path of gradual modernization of the English model.

The equalization of all citizens of the country before the law would immediately seriously advance the country in this direction, and the separation of powers would contribute to the observance of the rule of law.

The most important step would be the distribution of people into estates not by birthright, but by possession of property. This would gradually turn estates into classes and also increase the value of wealth. Similar processes took place in England since the 16th century. This did not at all beg for noble dignity. Belonging to the famous gentlemen of the XVII-XVIII centuries, whose stiffness became the talk of the tongue, was actually determined not by the nobility of the family, but precisely by the property they possessed. Of course, the upstart who instantly got rich did not immediately fall into the high society, he still needed to acquire manners, but it was not necessary for the gentleman to demonstrate the genealogy dating back to one of the knights of William the Conqueror. Most likely, Speransky hoped to eventually see something similar in Russia.

Separately, it must be emphasized that such a system increases the value of accumulating wealth, because it has become a pass to the upper class. Of course, most of it for a long time would still have been nobles who received income from estates. But those who got rich, for example, in production, would also strive to get there. That is, this measure could stimulate entrepreneurship at the level of outlook.

The reformer also hoped to build a civil society where people are accustomed to making decisions and being responsible for them. To do this, he proposed to introduce elected bodies of power, not only central, but also in the field, even in the smallest administrative units, where many voters knew each other and knew the candidates well. It was in this way that a sense of civic responsibility was formed in England from below (the jury courts, introduced back in the High Middle Ages, played a big role there). The parliament there was also formed according to a similar principle - the deputies were not just names, many voters knew them personally or almost personally. And just such a system could guarantee the result. The history of the 19th and 20th centuries showed that the introduction of central bodies of popular representation without proper preparation rarely leads to positive results.

The organs of popular representation, together with the civil society they represented, were supposed to limit the power of the monarch. This, according to the thought of many figures of the Enlightenment, would insure the country from the rule of a stupid or simply lazy emperor.

Thus, the implementation of these reforms could put Russia on an evolutionary path of gradual modernization and, in the case of the most favorable development of events, would even make it possible to avoid the emergence of a revolutionary situation at the beginning of the 20th century. However, history does not have a subjunctive mood, and the development of events could be any.

3. What are the causes and results of the Patriotic War of 1812 Briefly describe the main stages of the war.

Since 1810, Russia has been trading with neutral countries, and hence with Great Britain (through intermediaries), which disrupted the continental blockade, on which Napoleon I, under the dominance of the British fleet at sea, placed his main hopes in the fight against his main enemy;

From 1810, Russia raised duties on luxury goods, which it bought mainly in France - these duties hit French trade;

Russia began to concentrate troops near the Duchy of Warsaw, which was perceived by France as a threat, although in reality to prevent the uprising of the Poles on the territory of the Russian Empire (they looked with envy at the Duchy of Warsaw and wanted the same "freedom");

An indirect role was played by two refusals that Napoleon I received during the matchmaking with the sisters of Alexander I, Catherine and Anna (formally, the reasons for the refusals were different, but Napoleon believed that Alexander continued to consider him not an equal emperor, but a Corsican upstart - this was very hurtful).

Main stages:

The retreat of the 1st and 2nd armies and their attempts to unite. This stage is characterized by swift maneuvers of both opponents. Skirmishes, sometimes very significant, occurred only between mobile cavalry units. It can conditionally begin on the first day of the crossing of the French troops across the Neman on June 12 (although in reality the retreat of the Russian armies began a little later) and end with the beginning of the Battle of Smolensk on August 4, when the armies managed to unite.

The retreat of the united army. This stage is also characterized by the withdrawal of Russian troops and relatively minor skirmishes. It began with the actual unification on August 4 until the occupation of Moscow by the enemy on September 2. But it also includes the Battle of Smolensk and the famous Battle of Borodino on August 26th. It was also at this stage that the first partisans began to act against Napoleon's troops - flying detachments of regular cavalry sent by the army command. But the peasant self-organized detachments gradually became more active.

The period of standing of the enemy army in Moscow. Characterized by the inaction of both armies. Napoleon then sent proposals to the Russian emperor to conclude peace, the Russian army brought up fresh forces. It is to this stage that the famous fire in Moscow and its looting belong.

Napoleon's attempts to retreat along an unbroken road. This is a short step. It lasted from the enemy's retreat from Moscow on 7 October until he abandoned his original plan of retreat on 14 October. But this week decided the outcome of the company, because it was the wrong choice of the route on the next that ruined the army to a much greater extent than the direct attacks of the Russian troops, and it was on this path that the enemy soldiers suffered the most from the onset of early cold weather (operating in the St. in the same weather conditions, the corps of Marshal MacDonald did not suffer much from the Russian climate). And this wrong path was chosen based on the results of this stage. Despite its importance, the stage was not characterized by large-scale battles and regular battles. There were skirmishes, some of them (for example, along Maloyaroslavets) - large ones. But Field Marshal Kutuzov won mainly with the help of maneuvers that forced the enemy to either retreat or take the fight in unfavorable conditions for themselves. Napoleon preferred the former.

Retreat. This stage can be considered the path of Napoleon's army from Moscow to the end of the battle on the Berezina, that is, from October 14 to November 17. During this period, guerrilla warfare intensified significantly. The French army retreated and constantly lost people from disease, cold and desertion, but still retained relative order. In many ways, this order, together with the military art of Napoleon and simple luck (the army discovered previously unknown fords), allowed the enemy to cross the Berezina, albeit with heavy losses, while the Russian command planned to completely destroy the enemy on the banks of this river.

Escape. After crossing the Berezina, which ended on November 17, the French army simply fled. Relative discipline was preserved only by the imperial guard. However, for convenience, this stage can be continued until the date of the complete expulsion of the enemy from the Russian Empire, although the last to leave on December 19 was the corps of Marshal MacDonald, who retreated in good order and periodically fought with the advancing Russian troops.

Effects:

The enemy was expelled from the Russian Empire;

The victory over such a significant opponent raised the international prestige of the Russian Empire;

Napoleon's great army was almost completely destroyed, which greatly weakened his empire (although the great commander managed to assemble a new no less impressive army, destroyed already during the battle of Leipzig);

The Russian victory inspired Napoleon's former enemies, resulting in the creation of the VI Anti-French Coalition - its significant combined resources, including the huge number of combined troops, played a significant role in the defeat of Napoleon.

4. Describe the position of Russia in the world after the Congress of Vienna

After the Congress of Vienna, Russia took a leading role in European international politics, although this did not at all resemble the position of a hegemon. This was facilitated by the role that the Russian army played in the defeat of Napoleon, supported by the role of the leader that Russia played in the Holy Alliance.

5. What are the main directions in the foreign policy of Russia during the reign of Alexander I. What results were achieved in each of the directions?

Directions:

Baltic - the war against Sweden was won, Finland was annexed;

European - Russia played a key role in the defeat of Napoleon, after which it became the leader of the Holy Alliance, thanks to which it began to play a leading role in European international politics, but apart from prestige in this direction, it received nothing;

Turkish - the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812 was won, Bessarabia and some lands in the Caucasus went to Russia, Turkey recognized the autonomy of the Danubian principalities and Serbia;

Caucasian - as a result of the Russian-Persian war of 1804-1813, Persia recognized the annexation of parts of Georgia, Azerbaijan and other lands to Russia, as well as the exclusive right to keep a navy in the Caspian Sea and the right to trade Russian merchants throughout its territory, which opened up the possibility of further economic expansion;

The Far East - in Alaska, wars were won against the Indians, in particular, the Tlingit, from Alaska, Russian influence spread to California (where Fort Ross was built), and to Hawaii (where the Elizabethan Fortress was built, but soon lost).

6. Analyze the development of the social movement in Russia in the first quarter of the 19th century, list the secret organizations, describe their goals and programs.

The future Decembrists united for the first time within the framework of the "Union of Salvation", which, in fact, did not have a clear tactic, as well as a program. There was only the intention to give Russia a better, freer state system. The members of the union discussed the program and tactics, but did not really decide anything, although the possibility of a military coup was also admitted. Then came the turn of the Union of Welfare, whose members relied only on peaceful means of propagating their ideas through the organization of educational societies and schools, the publication of magazines and books. Here, too, there were no clear policy documents, like the more mature Decembrists, only general intentions remained clear. The Welfare Union sincerely believed that the government might need help from their organization in the matter of reforms and were ready to provide it. After that, the Decembrist organizations proper were formed - the Northern and Southern societies. They purposefully prepared for an armed uprising and developed documents that each of them wanted to make the main law of Russia: P. I. Pestel’s “Russian Truth” and N. M. Muravyov’s “Constitution”. These programs were very different from each other: if the first document spoke of a unitary republic with a popularly elected parliament and the abolition of serfdom with the allocation of land to the peasants (although there were nuances with the division of land into public and private), then the second one spoke of a federal (in in accordance with the right of peoples to self-determination) a constitutional monarchy with a parliament elected by property qualification and the abolition of serfdom with the allotment of peasants with only a small plot of land.