ical aspirations of various groups in the last part of Alexander's reign is described by Vernadsky.
Soon after 1815 secret societies began to be formed with the aim of completely reorganizing internal affairs in Russia. These were set up partly under the influence of the Masonic lodges and had some connection with them. The lessons of history were not missed by the liberal nobles who formed the opposition. The program of all the secret societies included the abolition of serfdom. Among the revolutionary groups, two had especial importance: the Southern Society, which was composed of officers of the southern army and was headed by Col. Paul Pestel, and the Northern Society of St. Petersburg. The plan for a constitution drawn up by Pestel was known as the Russkaia Pravda (Russian Law). Pestel visualized the future Russian state as a centralized republic with democratic policies. He also recognized the necessity of a powerful dictatorship in the revolutionary government. In these matters Pestel was a pupil of the French Jacobins and a forerunn
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