The Dumas

Question 1

Important people in this period are:

Answer 1

Peter Stolypin

Tsarina Alexandra

Rasputin

Question 2

Stolypin =

Answer 2

Prime Minsiter 1906-1911

Question 3

Tsarina Alexandra=

Answer 3

Tsar Nicholas’ wife

She ran the government during WWI

Question 4

Rasputin=

Answer 4

Advisor to the Tsar and Tsarina

Question 5

The Dumas occured between 1906-

Answer 5

1914

Question 6

Nicholas II introduced what in 1906 to reassert his authority?

Answer 6

The Fundamental Law of the Russian Empire

Question 7

The Fundamental law stated 5 things:

Answer 7

1) The Tsar had SUPREME AUTOCRATIC POWER
2) The Tsar could govern by ISSUING DECREES
3) The Council of State would be set up (a parliamentary body made up of Tsarist sympathisers)
4) Laws proposed by the Duma had to be APPROVED by the COUNCIL OF STATE and the TSAR (reform seemed unlikely)
5) Government ministers were APPOINTED BY THE TSAR and only had to answer to him - not the Duma

Question 8

The 1st Duma occured…

Answer 8

April-June 1906

Question 9

The 1st Duma was made up of 4 main parties:

Answer 9

Trudoviks (represented peasants and workers)

Octobrists (Moderate-loyal to the Tsar)

Progressives (New party made up of businessmen)

Kadets (Supported by intellectuals and professionals)

Question 10

Nicholas refused their demands and after 72 days he…

Answer 10

Dissolved the Duma

Question 11

After the dissolution of the 1st Duma, deputies gathered in Finland and appealed to the Russian people to…

Answer 11

Protest the dissolution of the Duma

Nicholas responded by arresting the deputies and banning them from standing for election in the future

Question 12

2nd duma occured…

Answer 12

Feb-June 1907

Question 13

Parties present in the 2nd duma =

Answer 13

Number of kadet deputied dropped

SRs, Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks gained seats

Question 14

Summary of 2nd duma =

Answer 14

Passed important land reform proposed by Stolypin

Existed in a state of almost constant uproar

Lasted just 4 months

Question 15

3rd Duma occured…

Answer 15

Nov 1907- June 1912

Question 16

Parties present in 3rd duma =

Answer 16

Electoral system revised, peasants lost vote, meant deputies fairly conservative

The Octobrists were the largest party present

Question 17

Summary of the 3rd Duma=

Answer 17

More right-wing, so prepared to work with the government rather than challenge it

Most proposals from the government were passed, e.g. further land reforms presented by Stolypin and a fairly progressive system of insurance for factory workers

Lasted over 4 years

Question 18

4th Duma lasted…

Answer 18

Nov 1912 - Feb 1917

Question 19

Parties present in 4th duma =

Answer 19

Dominated by the Octobrists and other right-wing parties

Question 20

Summary of 4th Duma:

Answer 20

Worked with the government until the outbreak of war in Aug 1914

But its significance changed dramatically as the war progressed

Question 21

The 3rd and 4th Dumas made some progress, 5 key points are:

Answer 21

1) The hated system of Land Captains was replaced by the Justices of the Peace
2) There was a massive increase in educational provision for students of all ages
3) Political parites which had been attacked by the Tsars and the Okhrana were now LEGAL
4) The debates which took place in the Dumas were widely reported and discussed in the press
5) Nichola II apeared to change his attitude towards the Dumas. 1906- he wrote that he SPAT on the idea of a CONSTITUTION, 6 years late he wrote ‘The Duma started TOO FAST. Now it is SLOWER, but BETTER, and more LASTING’