Domestic Politics of Peter 1

The results of the reign of Peter the Great were so significant, majestic, that many historians quite justifiably divide Russian history into the pre-Petrine and post-Petrine epochs. Attitude to this emperor became both a stumbling block and an apple of discord for researchers. It divided the scientists into two camps: approving the transformation of Peter 1 and condemning them.

Thus, the first believe that the foreign and domestic policies of Peter the Great served as a powerful impetus for the country's progress. The latter, on the contrary, are sure that by their actions the emperor only established serfdom and feudalism, and the violent break-up of the established traditions and way of life entailed other shocks that occurred during his reign.

Whatever the case, the internal policy of Peter I touched almost all spheres of society.

One of the main transformations of the emperor is a change in the state system of governing the country. As far back as 1708 the country was divided into eight large provinces in order to strengthen the power on the ground. The provinces were divided into provinces, and the provinces, in turn, were divided into counties.

After the Battle of Poltava, he completely reformed the authorities (both local and central). In 1711, the Senate replaced the Boyar Duma. Nine elected by Peter dignitaries gave the oath, they also wrote, and managed the finances of the state, created new laws. And in 1722 Peter 1 also appointed the Prosecutor General.

In the period from 1718 to 1721, 10 collegia replaced 50 orders. Each college dealt with a particular industry. The spiritual affairs, for example, were managed by the Synod, created in 1721.

And the proclamation in 1721 of Peter 1 by the emperor finally strengthened his power as an unlimited, autocratic monarch.

The internal policy of Peter 1 led to social transformations. According to the decree on the common heritage, published in 1714, the noble estate and boyar patrimony were considered the same. He united two estates into one, whose representatives were called noblemen. The same decree obliged to sell the estate to one of the sons in the inheritance. Also, the nobles were ordered to serve in the navy, in the army or in government bodies.

In 1722, the Table of Ranks was issued, which divided the service into court, military and civil. The ranks were fourteen, and it was possible to rise higher, only having passed the next step.

All the population, except for representatives of the clergy and nobility, paid the tax to the state, the so-called "per capita tax" (separately for each individual male, and the age and capacity were not taken into account). Tax paid and city artisans, who, moreover, had to register in the shops. Also, since 1724, without the written permission of the landowner, the peasant could not leave for work in another locality. And at the same time, all the poor, sick, maimed and sent to monasteries or almshouses were picked up around the country.

Thus, a new structure of society was gradually formed, based on the class principle and governed by the state legislation.

Domestic policy of Peter the Great almost did not affect agriculture. The development of new lands, the cultivation of new breeds of livestock, the cultivation of new varieties of cultivated plants did not cease. The peasants' duties were established not by law, but by the landlords themselves, so the serfs were often under the strongest oppression.

The internal policy of Peter 1 did not always lead to positive changes. This was primarily due to the lack of a special plan for carrying out various reforms. It often happened that the established regulations were not justified and abolished over time, but instead new ones were created and immediately introduced.