The Dumas and Stolypin

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  • Created by: iamme
  • Created on: 03-06-16 15:27

Paper 1 : Autocracy and Revolt in Russia : 1881 - 1914

The Dumas and Stolypin

Attitude of Tsar II towards the first four Dumas

  • Only to be elected from the nobility.
  • The first duma met in 1906, but was closed after 72 days.
  • The first two Dumas were openly critical to the Tsar which lead to the Tsar dismissing them.
  • Nicholas II retained the title of autocrat and continued to appoint and dismiss ministers as he pleased.
  • Laws continued to be promulgated by the government without reference to the Duma as Stolypin and Nicholas II changed the electoral system without the Duma in session.
  • This defied the purpose of the October Manifesto as the democracy promised to the people was not fulfilled.
  • Oppression continued in the power of the Tsar's secret police, Okhrana.
  • Again this renders the October Manifesto ineffective.
  • This was because Nicholas II only promised to the October Manifesto as a desparate measure and a sign of weakness.

Stolypin's policy of repression and land reform

  • Stolypin established military tribunals as a policy of repression
  • He proposed public execution of thousands to suppress ongoing revolutionary activity.
  • He convicted 16,500 people of political crimes and 3,500 of them to a death sentence.
  • As a result, political assassinations dropped to 365 in 1908 compared to 1,200 in 1907.
  • When the first 2 Dumas refused to pass the Tsar's legislation, he advised the Tsar to dissolve them.
  • In 1907, he changed the franchise to prevent the poor from voting for the third and fourth dumas.
  • Suspended voting in areas where the population had not reach civic development lead to fewer representatives from the lower classes, ie. peasants, urban wokers. 
  • This created Dumas who were more obedient towards the Tsar.
  • With the peasants excluded from voting, thus eliminates 78% of the population as the peasants formed the majority.

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