the dumas

what were the fundamental laws?

laws passed in 1906 to allow tsar nicholas to dissolve dumas whenever he wished

what were the dates of the first duma?

april 27 1906 to july 8 1906 (2.5 months)

describe the first duma.

• revolutionary parties (mesheviks, bolsheviks) boycotted the duma

• one representative per 2,000 nobles and per 90,000 peasantry

• quite radical, demanded more power and rights for the people

• tsar dissolved on july 8th 1906

what was the social impact of the first duma?

• two months of bitter disagreement

-> people lost faith in democracy and grew frustrated

• tsar was very agitated and angered by the representatives

what was the political impact of the first duma?

• deputies demanded increased power for the duma and universal and secret elections

• also demanded freedom of speecha nd assembly

-> tsar was horrified at their hostility and lack of repsect

-> he became aware of his loss of power and so he dissolved them

what was the economic impact of the first duma?

• the vyborg appeal

-> 200 kadet and trudovik deputies went to vyborg in finland and urged people to not pay taxes on july 22 1906

-> later arrested and disbarred from re-election

-> not many obeyed but the tsar became aware of his lack of power

what were the consequences of the first duma?

• brought together diverse political voices for the first time

• passed no laws

• proved the hollow nature of the october manifesto

• radicalised russian politics by showing the tsar would not keep his promises

what were the dates of the second duma?

20 february 1907 to 3 june 1907 (3.5 months)

describe the events of the second duma.

• had >200 leftist deputies

• much more radical than the first duma

• called the 'duma of national anger'

• tsar dissolved it on june 3 1907

what was the social impact of the second duma?

• duma cooperated with the government over famine relief

-> people felt the effects of famine reduce

what was the political impact of the second duma?

• leftist and rightist deputies debated fiercely and often ended up in brawls

-> unrest was showing and the need for decorum was dwindling

• leftists made attacks on stolypin's land reforms

-> tsar claimed the duma was plotting illegally (cosnpiring against the state) and dissolved it

what were the consequences of the second duma?

• exposed more radical ideas to the russian populus

• out of 287 bills only 3 were passed, and they were all minor

• dissent became more public

what happened in between the second and third dumas?

• on june 3 1907, stolypin changed the electoral system to favour the wealthier classes

-> he allowed only land-owners and 1/6 of peasantry to vote

-> this meant the wealthier classes had more sway and the successive duma was more conservative

• this was illegal!!

-> it exposed the autocracy that was still ruling russia through the illegal change of franchise

what were the dates of the third duma?

november 1 1907 - june 3 1912 (full term of five years)

describe the third duma.

• mostly octobrists

• other parties were less significant due to stolypin's change of franchise

what was the social impact of the third duma?

• passed a law mandating four years of primary education

• justices of peace restored

• national health insurance for workers developed

what was the political impact of the third duma?

• the government was still questioned about state finances

• stolypin felt insecure; he was opposed by most political parties and even the tsar

what was the economic impact of the third duma?

• stolypin was able to work with the duma to implement some of his economic reforms

what were the consequences of the third duma?

• proved a constitutional monarchy could operate

-> however this was only achieve through a misrepresentation of the people and was arguably not democracy

what were the dates of the fourth duma?

15 november 1912 to august 1914 (almost 2 years)

describe the fourth duma.

• similar representation to third duma

• agreed to suspend itself after the outbreak of ww1

what was the social impact of the fourth duma?

• had discussions about general health, particularly reducing drunkenness

• increased teachers' salaries

what was the economic impact of the fourth duma?

• some reform of the orthodox church; reduced state control and broadening curriculum in church schools

• period of some tension after lena goldfields massacre

what were the consequences of the fourth duma?

• still used an unfair electoral system

• war brought patriotism