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

Question 1

How was the make-up of the Second Duma different to the first? When was it elected?

Answer 1

Elected in 1907:
1 - The Bolsheviks, Mensheviks and SRs took part in the election, therefore it had a more radical make-up than the first
2 - The Kadets lost a considerable proportion of their support
3 - Right-wing parties who supported autocracy also gained support

Question 2

The Second Duma was split between…

Answer 2

conservatives and radicals.

Question 3

The Octoberists worked with……..to pass important land reform laws.

Answer 3

Stolypin

Question 4

SRs, Mensheviks and Bolsheviks rejected…

Answer 4

Stolypin’s proposed reforms.

Question 5

The police claimed that Bolshevik members of the Duma were encouraging…

Answer 5

mutinies.

Question 6

After how long did the Tsar dismiss the Second Duma?

Answer 6

3 months.

Question 7

The first two Dumas had exposed the limits of the…

Answer 7

1905-06 reforms, as well as the popular desire for greater economic and political reform.

Question 8

The first two Dumas undermined the…

Answer 8

authority of the Tsar by exposing the true nature of his government.

Question 9

How did Stolypin wish to solve the Tsar’s problems with Dumas?

Answer 9

A new electoral law which guaranteed a conservative majority in the Duma.

Question 10

What was Stolypin’s electoral law?

Answer 10

Created a weighted voting system - the vast majority of Russian men could still vote, but the new system over-represented the aristocracy and middle class, while it under-represented the working class.

Question 11

What did the election of the Third Duma, in 1907, produce?

Answer 11

A conservative-dominated Duma as Stolypin had hoped.

Question 12

How long did the Third Duma last?

Answer 12

1907-12.

Question 13

The Third Duma didn’t…

Answer 13

demand major reforms and broadly supported Stolypin’s policies.

Question 14

What did the Third Duma become known as?

Answer 14

The ‘Stolypin Duma’ or the ‘Duma of Lords and Lackeys’.

Question 15

How long did the Forth Duma last?

Answer 15

1912-1917.

Question 16

How did Nicholas II recognise that the Duma presented fundamental problems for autocratic rule?

Answer 16

1 - Autocracy was based on the view that the Tsar was the perfect representative of the Russian people. However, the Duma also claimed to represent the people of Russia - this undermined his authority
2 - The Duma gave Nicholas’ opponents a public position of authority from which they could attack the Tsar’s government - e.g., Alexander Guchkov, leader of the Octoberists, attacked the Tsar’s dependence on Grigori Rasputiin
3 - The Duma conducted research and wrote reports on aspects of the Tsar’s rule - the Tsar’s authority was challenged by experts

Question 17

What changes were the Third and Fourth Duma able to initiate, which improved Russian government?

Answer 17

1 - Land Captains were replaced by more JPs - the zemstvos were able to reassert their authority over local administration
2 - A plan to establish universal primary education was introduced
3 - Some health and accident insurance programmes were developed to help workers
4 - Some improvements to the Russian armed forces were implemented

Question 18

Why was the Tsar repeatedly infuriated by Alexander Guchkov, the Octoberist leader? (3)

Answer 18

1 - In debate in 1907, goaded by Duma right-wingers describing Nicholas II as an autocrat, Guchkov insisted that post-1905 Russia was not an autocracy
2 - In 1908, Guchkov made a speech in the Duma criticising the number of senior positions in the armed forces held by members of the royal family - accusing Nicholas II of nepotism
3 - In 1912, using colourful language, Guchkov attacked the growing influence in royal circles of the Siberian holy man, Grigori Rasputin - Tsar outraged, as was the Tsarina as she worshiped him

Question 19

Who was Alexander Guchkov (1862-1936)?

Answer 19

• The great-grandson of a serf who showed a talent for making money, bought his freedom and went on to make a fortune in the textile business
• Guchkov himself was a successful businessman: he was head of a major insurance company
• In his political career, he was a champion of Moscow’s business and financial community
• He was a relentless character with a liking for danger - he had been a soldier and an adventurer before embarking on his political career