Changes in Government (Dumas)

What were the Fundamental Laws and when were they promulgated?

Tsar’s attempt to reassert authority in April 1906:

• Tsar had absolute, god-given autocratic power.

• Tsar retained sole authority over command of the army and dealings with foreign nations.

• Tsar had the right to make laws without consultation of the Duma.

• Tsar was given right to dissolve and call new elections of the Duma at any time.

What did the 1906 constitution do to the Duma?

• Created a bicameral Duma.

• Lower house was elected by an electorate made up of most male Russians.

• Upper house, ‘Council of State’, half appointed by Tsar - other half appointed by institutions e.g. Orthodoxy Church.

• UH could veto laws proposed by LH.

What was the reaction the to the fundamental laws and the constitution?

It failed to satisfy liberals:

• Limited powers of the Duma and LH.

• Recognised the promise of individual rights was largely meaningless.

Socialists argued it did not address Russia’s underlying problems: peasant’s desire for land, oppression of workers.

What was the First Duma like and what were it’s achievements?

Elected in April 1906, it was made up of 478 seats, mainly the 185 liberal Kadets, 94 left laborist Troudoviks and 38 Conservative Octoberists.

Little was achieved. Duma made radical demands for creation of universal suffrage, land reform and freedom of political prisoners - Tsar deemed it unworkable and dissolved it after 73 days.

What was the Vyborg Manifesto?

Led by the Kadets, radicals from the First Duma fled to the Finnish town of Vyborg and issued the manifesto.

Called upon Russian people to refuse to pay tax until the Duma was re-elected - failed to have an impact as workers and peasants didn’t listen.

What was the Second Duma like and what did it achieve?

Elected in 1907, the make up was quite different: Kadets halved to 100, Troudoviks - 104, 47 Mens., 37 SRs and Octobrists grew to 44.

Fights broke out between left- and right-wing reps. Octoberists worked with Stolypin to pass land reforms. Tsar dissolved it after three months.

What was Stolypin’s Electoral Law and what was the consequence of it?

Created a weighted voting system. Vast majority of Russian men could vote, but the new system over-represented middle-class over workers. Created a more conservative Duma.

What was the Third Duma like and what did it achieve?

Lasting between Nov.1907-Jun. 1912, it was made up of 441 seats, with, 154 Octobrists, 147 rightists, 54 Kadets and 14 Toudoviks.

Stolypin able to put through land reforms, law of universal education passed, modernisation of army, developed a progressive national health scheme for workers, replaced Land Captains with Justices of the Peace - zemstvos able to reassert authority.

What was the Fourth Duma like and what did it achieve?

Lasting between Nov. 1912-Aug. 1914, it had similar deputies to the Third Duma.

Some reform of Orthodox Church reducing state control and broadening education, increased spending on teachers salaries and discussion of general people’s health.