Nicholas II's relations with the Dumas, 1906-14

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  • Created by: Tori
  • Created on: 05-05-20 09:56
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  • Nicholas II's relations with the Duma, 1906-14
    • The 2nd Duma
      • elected in 1907
      • The make up was very different to the 1st Duma:
        • -The Bolsheviks, Mensheviks and SRs took part in the election, therefore it had a more radical makeup than the first.
        • -The Kadets lost a considerable proportion of their support.
        • -Right-wing parties who supported the autocracy also gained support.
        • Thus, the 2nd Duma was split between conservatives and radicals.
          • The Octoberists worked with Stolypin to pass important land reform laws.
          • However, SRs, Bolsheviks and Mensheviks rejected Stolypin's proposed reforms.
            • The police claimed that Bolshevik members of the Duma were encouraging mutinies.
              • Thus, the Tsar used this as a pretext to dismiss the Duma after 3 months.
    • The Tsar and the Dumas, 1907
      • The first 2 Dumas had exposed the limits of the 1905-06 reforms.
        • Also exposed the desire for greater economic and political reform.
        • Thus, they undermined the authority of the Tsar by exposing rhe true nature of his government.
        • Stolypyn's solution to this problem was to introduce a new electoral law which guarenteed a conservative majority in the Duma.
          • Stolypyn's Electoral Law
            • Created a weighted voting system.
              • The vat majority of Russian men could still vote, but the new system over-represented the aristocracy and middle class.
                • Guarenteeing a consrvative Duma by under-representing the working class.
    • The 3rd and 4th Dumas
      • The election of 1907 produced a conservative-dominated Duma as Stolypyn had hoped for.
        • The 3rd Duma (1907-12) didn't demand major reforms and broadly supported Stolypyn's policies.
          • Also can be seen to be the 'more successful' Duma for the Tsar and Stolypyn as it lasted way longer than the Dumas before.
            • Lasted for the full 5 years specified in the constitution.
          • Became known as 'Stolypyns Duma' or the 'Duma of the Lords amd Lackeys'.
      • The 4th Duma  (1912-17) was essentially as conservative as the thrid.
    • Nicholas and the Duma
      • Despite their conservative nature, the Tsar was unwilling to work with the later Dumas.
        • Nicholas recognised that the Duma presented fundmental problems for autocratic rule:
          • -Autocracy was based on the view that the Tsar was rhe perfect representative of the Russian people.
            • However, the Duma also claimed to represent the people of Russia, underminding his authority.
          • -The Duma gave Nicholas' opponents a public position of authority, from which they could attack the Tsar's government.
            • eg. Alexander Guchkov, leader of the Octoberists, attacked the Tsar's dependance on Grigori Rasputin.
          • -The Duma conducted research and wrote reports on aspects of the Tsar's rule.
            • This meant that the Tsar's authority was challenged by experts.
    • The Impact of the Dumas
      • The 3rd and 4th Dumas were able to initate a number of changes which improved Russian government:
        • -Land Captains were replaced by more Justices of the Peace.
          • Thus, Zemstvos were able to assert their authority over local administration
        • -A plan to establish universal primary education was introduced.
        • -Some health and accident insureance programmes were developed to help workers.
        • -Some improvements to the Russian armed forces were implemented.
      • The successes of the Dumas were  problem for the Tsar.
        • They suggested that the Dumas should play a larger role in Russian government.
          • In tis sense the Dum's victories underminded the Tsar's authority.

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