8. The Dumas
1
“Curse the duma. It is all Witte’s
doing.”
Tsar Nicholas II
2
In this lesson you will...
• Learn about the main outcomes of the four
Dumas.
• Learn about the historical context of Dumas 1, 2
& 3.
• Continue to practice source analysis.
3
1. Revision
4
Time to get out an old favourite
• Nicholas II’s proclamation of
Fundamental Laws timed in with the
start of the First Duma. Why?
5
Lead Up to the Duma
• February 18th 1906: The Tsarist regime announces harsh new
punishments for anti-government advertising or literature.
• March 4th 1906: Workers are allowed to join unions, but not allowed to
strike.
• What was the context of the First Duma?
No word of a lie...this is what
came appeared when I googled
“ominous storm sound effect”
6
2. The First Duma 27th April - 8th July
1906
7
Period Before the First Duma
•
The Duma was a “period of uneasy and ambiguous experimentation with
quasi -constitutional politics.” Alan Wood.
•
Let’s read “Reinventing Russia pages” 57-59.
•
Enter the following terms/people into your glossary: Witte, Stolypin, State
Council of Russia, Duma.
•
Key Dates:
Mid April 1906: Elections to the Duma completed.
April 1906: Sergei Witte dismissed as Prime Minister. (First Duma)
23rd April 1906: Nicholas II proclaims the Fundamental Laws (First Duma)
June 1906: Nicholas II creates the State Council of Russia. (First Duma)
3rd June 1906: Three days of Anti-Semitic violence ends with 800 Jews dead (First Duma).
7th July 1906: Stolypin appointed Prime Minister; begins agrarian reform and political oppression. (First Duma)
8
The First Duma Meet
• Read about the First Duma on page 60 of
“Reinventing Russia.”
1. What do the Kadets “Address to the Throne”
suggest about their views on the Duma?
9
Did you know Witte
offered the Kadets a
place in the Council
of Ministers...they
declined.
Read about the First Duma on pages 44-6 of “Reaction and Revolution.”
First Duma
•
• 8th July 1906: Government forces move into the Tauride Palace in St.
Petersburg). After weeks of anti-government criticism and demands for
further reform in the Duma, the tar dissolves it.
• 10th July 1906: The Kadats pass the Vyborg Manifesto, calling on the
Russian population to engage in passive resistance.
• Add the following terms to your glossary: bi-cameral, Vyborg Appeal,
2. How did Nicholas II ensure that he had a say in the Duma?
3. Which political party made up the majority of the First Duma?
4. What was the Vyborg Appeal? Was it successful?
5. What was the long term impacts of the Vyborg Appeal on the Kadets?
10
Source Analysis
6. Evaluate the strengths and
limitations of the cartoonist’s
opinion that the Duma was
not successful.
11
3. The Second Duma 20th February 3rd June 1907
12
Period Before the 2nd Duma
• 17th-29th July 1906: More military mutinies.
• 10th August 1906: Stolypin begins his agrarian reforms.
• 12th August 1906: Assassination attempt on Stolypin kills 30
people in his house.
• 9th November 1906: Stolypin decrees that communal peasant
land can be purchased by private buyers. He hopes this will lead
to an increase in Kulak (wealthy peasants).
• 21st December 1906: The governor-general of St. Petersburg is
assassinated by the SR.
13
The Second Duma Meet
• Read about the Second Duma on page 60 of “Reinventing Russia.”
• Read about the Second Duma on page 44 of “Reaction and Revolution.”
• 1st June 1907: Tsarist police arrest left-wing politicians and activists in
St. Petersburg.
• 3rd June 1907: Tsar Nicholas II dissolves the second Duma after weeks
of criticism and inflammatory speeches.
7. Why was Nicholas II “shocked” by the membership of the Second
Duma?
8. Which groups dominated the Second Duma?
9. Why was the Second Duma dissolved?
14
Stolypin’s Reforms
•
Read page 41-3 of “Reaction and Revolution.”
•
“suppression first and then, only then,
reform.” Stolypin
•
Add the following terms to your glossary:
Rural Crisis, De-Revolutionising, Wager on
the Strong, Conservatism
10. What did Stolypin see as the principle issue
in Russia?
11. Why did he feel the need to de-revolutionise
the peasants?
12. Identify two changes Stolypin introduced for
the peasants.
13. What evidence suggests that Stolypin’s aims
for the peasants were realistic?
15
4. The Third Duma November 1907 1912
16
Period Before the Third Duma
• 3rd June 1907: Stolypin alters the electoral law prior
to the elections to the Third Duma reducing
representation of peasants, workings and national
minorities.
• 13th June 1907: Bolsheviks hold up a train in the
Geogian city of Tiflis, stealing more than 340, 000 and
killing dozens of people.
• 1st September 1907: Elections for the Third Duma
begins.
17
The Third Duma Meets
• Read about the Second Duma on page 61 of “Reinventing Russia.”
• Read about the Second Duma on page 44 of “Reaction and
Revolution.”
• Enter Electoral Laws, Committee system and national insurance
into your glossary.
14. How did Nicholas II and Stolypin manipulate the membership of
the Third Duma?
15. Why was Nicholas II determined to allow the Duma to continue?
16. What were some strengths and limitations of the Third Duma?
18
5. The Fourth Duma 15th November
1912 - 1914
19
The Fourth Duma Meets
• Read about the Fourth Duma on page 61 of
“Reinventing Russia.”
16. Describe the context of the Fourth Duma.
20
6. Summing it Up
21
Let’s Read
• Page 48 of “Reaction and Revolution.”
22
Have you?
• Learnt about the main outcomes of the four
Dumas?
• Learnt about the historical context of Dumas 1,
2 & 3?
• Continued to practice source analysis?
23