ae ndi The creation of a Duma was accompanied by the introduction of a franchise. The vote was given to all men over the age of 25, but not to women or members of the armed forces. However, there was a weakness in the system as electoral districts within provinces were not equally represented. Between 1905 and Nicholas II's abdication in March 1917, four Dumas were called. How did the four Dumas progress? The Dumas that were allowed to meet had rather mixed fortunes. First Duma, April-July 1906 Members of the first assembly participated in rigorous debate over matters of the Empire, such as the Polish question. However, the most important discussions concerned land distribution. The government stated that compulsory redistribution was not an option. This angered the First Duma who wanted a more radical solution; their disappointment and demands quickly gained press coverage. In response, Nicholas II claimed the actions of the Duma were illegal, and disbanded it after two months. Between the sitting of the First and Second Dumas, a new approach to dealing with dissidents was adopted, sparked by the arrest, trial and imprisonment of key Kadet and Labourist Party members who had signed the Vyborg Manifesto. The new chairman of the Council of Ministers, Stolypin, thought that the process of dealing with dissenters was too cumbersome and 'soft'. He therefore ordered the trial system for civilian rioters to be accelerated by introducing field court-martials that resulted in fast trials and thousands of executions. Second Duma, February-June 1907 The composition of the Second Duma was greatly affected by Stolypin's policies. There were fewer Kadets and Labourists, but more representatives from the SD, SR, Octobrists and the far right. However, the tsar and Stolypin continued to mistrust the work of the Duma over land reform and the management of the Russian army. When a SD member of the Duma was framed by the tsar for attempting to arrange an army mutiny, the tsar proclaimed that the Duma was subversive, dissolved it and overhauled the electoral system. Third Duma, November 1907-June 1912 As a result of the electoral reforms, the Third Duma consisted mainly of people loyal to the crown, such as wealthy property owners from the countryside and cities. There was also a significant reduction in nationalist members from non-Russian parts of the empire. However, as the historian J.N. Westwood has pointed out, 'an unrepresentative Duma was not necessarily an ineffective Duma'. During the period, major reforms strengthened the army and navy. The judicial system was further improved with the reinstatement of justices of the peace and the abolition of land captains. For the first time, state-run insurance schemes for workers were introduced. All of this occurred because Nicholas II and his ministers showed more trust in the lower chamber. Even though Stolypin did his best to destabilise the Duma by manipulating Article 87 to create an even greater bias towards autocracy, the lower chamber served its full term of office. The rule of Tsar Nicholas Il Electoral reforms These reforms were introduced by Stolypin in June 1907 and involved changes to the voting system. As a result: the wealthiest 1 per cent of the electorate controlled 66 per cent of all seats in the new duma; the representation for workers and peasants was cut by roughly one- half; non-Russian representation was slashed by over one-half. Article 87 A section of the 1906 Fundamental Laws that allowed for proposed legislation to be submitted directly to the tsar for his approval without it having to be agreed to by the new Duma.
ae ndi The creation of a Duma was accompanied by the introduction of a franchise. The vote was given to all men over the age of 25, but not to women or members of the armed forces. However, there was a weakness in the system as electoral districts within provinces were not equally represented. Between 1905 and Nicholas II's abdication in March 1917, four Dumas were called. How did the four Dumas progress? The Dumas that were allowed to meet had rather mixed fortunes. First Duma, April-July 1906 Members of the first assembly participated in rigorous debate over matters of the Empire, such as the Polish question. However, the most important discussions concerned land distribution. The government stated that compulsory redistribution was not an option. This angered the First Duma who wanted a more radical solution; their disappointment and demands quickly gained press coverage. In response, Nicholas II claimed the actions of the Duma were illegal, and disbanded it after two months. Between the sitting of the First and Second Dumas, a new approach to dealing with dissidents was adopted, sparked by the arrest, trial and imprisonment of key Kadet and Labourist Party members who had signed the Vyborg Manifesto. The new chairman of the Council of Ministers, Stolypin, thought that the process of dealing with dissenters was too cumbersome and 'soft'. He therefore ordered the trial system for civilian rioters to be accelerated by introducing field court-martials that resulted in fast trials and thousands of executions. Second Duma, February-June 1907 The composition of the Second Duma was greatly affected by Stolypin's policies. There were fewer Kadets and Labourists, but more representatives from the SD, SR, Octobrists and the far right. However, the tsar and Stolypin continued to mistrust the work of the Duma over land reform and the management of the Russian army. When a SD member of the Duma was framed by the tsar for attempting to arrange an army mutiny, the tsar proclaimed that the Duma was subversive, dissolved it and overhauled the electoral system. Third Duma, November 1907-June 1912 As a result of the electoral reforms, the Third Duma consisted mainly of people loyal to the crown, such as wealthy property owners from the countryside and cities. There was also a significant reduction in nationalist members from non-Russian parts of the empire. However, as the historian J.N. Westwood has pointed out, 'an unrepresentative Duma was not necessarily an ineffective Duma'. During the period, major reforms strengthened the army and navy. The judicial system was further improved with the reinstatement of justices of the peace and the abolition of land captains. For the first time, state-run insurance schemes for workers were introduced. All of this occurred because Nicholas II and his ministers showed more trust in the lower chamber. Even though Stolypin did his best to destabilise the Duma by manipulating Article 87 to create an even greater bias towards autocracy, the lower chamber served its full term of office. The rule of Tsar Nicholas Il Electoral reforms These reforms were introduced by Stolypin in June 1907 and involved changes to the voting system. As a result: the wealthiest 1 per cent of the electorate controlled 66 per cent of all seats in the new duma; the representation for workers and peasants was cut by roughly one- half; non-Russian representation was slashed by over one-half. Article 87 A section of the 1906 Fundamental Laws that allowed for proposed legislation to be submitted directly to the tsar for his approval without it having to be agreed to by the new Duma.
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Context: Russia 1905-1907
Using the info from the sheets, categorise them into these sections
(only for the First and Second Dumas)
- Main parties/ key people (in the Duma)
- Success
- Failures/problems
- Other important points
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