Dumas Flashcards
What criteria would make a Duma a success?
- Representativeness
- Longevity
- Impact on legislation
When was the first Duma and how was it successful?
April-June 1906
- Established some form of elected government in Russia for the first time
- Large number of liberal and reformists parties elected
- Great peasant representation - 191 deputies were peasants
- This gave hope and high expectations for reform the first Duma being dubbed the ‘Duma of National Hopes’
When was the first Duma and how was it unsuccessful?
April-June 1906
- 1906 Fundamental Laws undermined the October Manifesto and reasserted that all law must go through the Tsar
- Not truly representative - Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and other extreme right/left wing groups refused to join
- Upper chamber consisting of gov ministers with Tsar’s interest in mind had veto powers - the Duma had no real power
- Duma was dismissed after just 10 weeks
When was the second Duma and how was it successful?
February-June 1907
- Stolypin was willing to work with them on necessary reforms
- Most representative Duma - Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, SRs decided to participate
Counter judgement if arguing was unsuccessful: fact it was closed so soon and Article 87 had to be used shows its opposition was a significant enough threat
When was the second Duma and how was it unsuccessful?
February-June 1907
- Both extreme left wing and right wing parties wanted the Duma to fail so it was known as the ‘Duma of National Anger’
- Opposition to Stolypin’s land reform was ignored as Article 87 was used to pass the law when the Duma wasn’t in session - any attempt to influence legislation was undermined
- Nicholas and Stolypin ordered its dissolution and Social Democrat deputies were immediately arrested and exiled despite supposed to have immunity
When was the third Duma and how was it successful?
November 1907 - June 1912
- Passed 2,200 of 2,500 gov proposals passed - had significant impact on legislation
- Were able to exercise right to question gov ministers and discuss state finances
- Approved bills for social reform and developed schemes of national insurance for industrial workers
When was the third Duma and how was it unsuccessful?
November 1907 - June 1912
- Least representative - gov created this Duma by rigging elections in favour of the gentry as such this Duma was nicknamed the ‘Duma of Lords and Lackeys’. Left wing groups were almost entirely eliminated and Octobrists and Rightists won a rigged majority
- Electoral system was doctored to limit opponents (rigged elections) and peasant vote. Only 1/6 males had the right to vote - democracy was limited
Counter Judgement: Still able to cause some trouble for Tsar as Octobrists later moved to opposition. The Duma had to be shut down twice so that laws could be passed with Article 87
When was the fourth Duma and how was it successful?
November 1912 - August 1917
- Okhrana reports about 4th Duma protests reflect how seriously authorities took the assembly as a focus of public opinion
- Provision of state welfare improved
When was the fourth Duma and how was it unsuccessful?
November 1912 - August 1917
- Growing discontent due to gov continuously ignoring Dumas wished to change legislation, violence was being used maintain public order
- Left wing groups ignored Duma seeing them as irrelevant and instead resorted to strikes and direct action
- Kokovstov the new Chief Minister after Stolypin’s assassination largely ignored the Duma even saying “Thank God we still have no parliament”
- This shows that the Duma were ignored by both revolutionaries and the government - general consensus was that they were useless
