The Dumas

Question 1

First Duma: April 1906 to July 1906

Answer 1

Elections to the Duma were boycotted by radical left parties. This meant that all of the Dumas representatives were of the moderate Left-wing. Parliament was dominated by the Kadets, which demanded extreme political changes - this was quickly rejected by the tsar, who shut down the Duma.

Question 2

Second Duma - The Duma of National Anger: February 1906 to June 1907

Answer 2

Radical left-parties decided to participate in the Duma this time. Number of octobrists doubled. Social Democrats were executed because suspected to assassinate Tsar. Tsar also used his powers to pass laws when the Duma was not in session.

Question 3

Third Duma

Answer 3

Longest Duma. This was the longest Duma, and agreed to carry out major agrarian reforms, in spite of clashes with the tsar. It was suspended twice and was dealt a definitive blow with the death of Piotr Stolyipin, Russia’s de facto PM.

Question 4

Fourth Duma

Answer 4

Too divided to be effective. Refused to disband when tsar ordered it to do so on 26 February 1917 and continued to meet as a Provisional Government.