How Far Was The Constitutional Experiment Working By 1914? Flashcards
When was stolypin assassinated
In September 1911, after his death the constitutional experiment ground to a halt
New ministers Nicholas appointed were?
Conservative and unimaginative nonentities (unimportant person) not likely tov abuse to him trouble
Relationship with duma + power of prime minster
Power of prime minister declined and battles between ministers + conflicting departmental policies returned
Little chance creative relationship with the duma
Nicholas and Dumas
- gov not supportive of reforms to the duma
- Nicholas + court cronies becoming increasingly isolated = depended almost entirely on right-wing support , in particular that of All- Russian union or landowners (or untied nobility )
Nicholas attitude to Dumas
- Nicholas never willing to work with or listen to Dumas
- those close to him always looking for ways to reduce its power
Nicholas looked for excuses to close down sessions
In stolypin Nicholas had the chance to
Bring in significant reform but Nicholas never backed him in any consistent way
- at the end contrived with his right-wing friends to prevent him from accomplishing anything
Nicholas attitude on the running of Russia
- did not want to change any the key institutions of the Russian autocracy or the main legal arrangements
- at heart did not believe democratic gov = good idea
- wanted to preserve autocracy - saw it as a better way of running Russia
Not all blame should be attached to the tsar - Kadets demands in the early Dumas were
Very radical- not prepared to compromise or be patient
- as a result= quarrels, bitter struggle between tsar and his supporters on the right , liberals + other parties on the left
- did not allow any relationship of trust and co-operation to develop
- by 1913- liberals = much reduced force little hope of getting what they wanted
What did some historians believe about the existence of dumas
It showed political progress was being made
- done some useful work evidence showing working relationship between duma and gov ministers could be established
- provided reason to believe that regime might slip into some form of constitutional gov in the future
Other historians - duma experiment had had failed to ?
Bring about any fundamental change to the conduct of the government
- relationship between tsar and people and articulate groups who had participated on the duma becoming increasingly disillusioned
The autocracy reaction to reform
Autocracy had fought off any attempt to reform it and political aspirations of the Russian people had been frustrated
- Dominic Lieven(usually supportive of the tsar)- tsar could only be pressured into constitutional concessions by the dire and immediate threat of devotion
