Speransky reforms have become a real pinnacle of government reforms in the beginning of the reign of Alexander I. The son of a simple priest from the village, he made a lot of works in order to become a well-known lawyer and make dizzying administrative career.
In 1807 Speranski already was one of the persons close to the emperor, almost daily conversations with him, discussed the transformation project.His opinion was often critical to Alexander I in selecting candidates for public office.He also had detractors who believed that he has the will of the emperor himself controls Russia.And in fact, he's only, albeit very talented, follow the instructions of Alexander I. Political Views differed Speranskii same uncertainty as the views of the emperor himself.On the one hand, they wanted to make Russia a truly European country, and on the other - to understand that the country is not ready for drastic changes.Speransky, as a fan of Napoleon and his ideas, considered that in the country with a predominance of servile population can be no question of the present monarchy.However, he also realized that if dramatically solve the peasant question, limited the autocratic power of the emperor, so behaved with extreme caution.
political reforms Speransky developed and submitted to the emperor was only in 1809.In the new project, he pointed out that due to the revolutions that shook Europe and reforms in Russia can not be delayed any longer.
Speransky reforms primarily concerning the division of several branches of government (the judiciary, the executive, legislative) with the convening of the State Duma, and the introduction of judicial electoral authorities.He also considered the paramount importance of the establishment of the State Council, which is linked to each other controls the central and local levels with the emperor.Speransky reforms, however, will give all these new advisory bodies only right.They do not affect the autocratic power of the emperor.
Speransky and his reforms, worn liberal, of course, were not only supporters.Against them were the nobles, the conservative-minded.The transformations they saw a threat to their position and the autocratic feudal system in general.The historian and writer Nikolai Karamzin, as the main ideologist of conservatives, presented to the Emperor a note in which he asked him (and even insisted) to preserve the old order, to thereby maintain the autocracy and serfdom.
Speransky reforms also met with resistance on the part of Count AA Arakcheev, close to Alexander I. Graf, on the contrary, believed that in order to strengthen the power of the emperor have to further develop the existing bureaucratic system.The struggle between conservatives and liberals ended in the defeat of the latter.Their ideologue was removed from public affairs, and sent into exile.
Speransky reforms implemented in only one issue: in 1810, established the Council of State.It consists of ministers and other dignitaries to the destination of the emperor himself.Functions of the Council of State concluded in the meetings on the development of new laws and the interpretation of the values of already adopted laws.He also engaged in the distribution of funds between ministries, Ministers reviewed the reports for the year, before providing them to the emperor.These functions are preserved for the Council of State until 1906.
In general, reforms undertaken in the country since 1802 to 1811, did not change the nature of its political system.On the contrary, they have made the state apparatus even more centralized.The supreme legislative and executive authority was still the emperor.
