Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-4-the-duma-and-political-stalemate [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa.md) › The Duma & Political Stalemate # The Duma & Political Stalemate History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945, topic 1.2.4 ## The Government and the Duma Tsar Nicholas II and Peter Stolypin struggled to keep a good relationship with the Duma (the Russian parliament). ### First and second Dumas ![First and second Dumas](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/1d165c6c-e7b0-49d4-bd75-eb8a87676bfb/shutterstock_367599311.jpg) - The October Manifesto introduced the Duma to pacify the people. - But on the 8th of July 1906, after the Duma had been running 2 months, the tsar quickly dissolved the Duma because it was too radical. The Duma (Russian parliament) was meant to run for a term of 5 years. - On the 21st of July 1906, the tsar made Stolypin the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, effectively replacing the Duma. - The 2nd Duma was opened on the 20th of February 1907 but was abandoned after 3 months. ### 'Duma of national anger' !['Duma of national anger'](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/0b0ff512-1136-4d04-bd83-9e7d357fbecf/shutterstock_716498566.jpg) - The 2nd Duma was more radical than the 1st because the Socialists, Bolsheviks, and Mensheviks all decided to stand for election to the Duma. - There were twice as many radicals in the Duma as moderates, making law-making hard. - Stolypin & Tsar Nicholas tried to prosecute members of the Duma, thinking that they were encouraging a mutiny among Russia's military and naval forces. ### Reforming the Duma and election process ![Reforming the Duma and election process](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-06/239897b6-a466-4e7c-b4e4-7e82a7336d64/shutterstock_242290300.jpg) - With the 2nd Duma being made up of very radical socialists, Stolypin changed Russian law to try to get a more moderate Duma. - Peasants' and workers' votes were downgraded so that peasants and workers were less represented (they had been voting for the extreme socialists). - Instead, the aristocracy, landowners and wealthy had more of a say in who became a representative in the Duma. ## The Third Duma (1907-1912) The third Duma was more moderate. It lasted the intended term of 5 years, instead of being abandoned after a few months. ### The Octobrists and moderates ![The Octobrists and moderates](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/8016e91c-93e3-48f0-bd06-cc097f04dd3c/torah.scrolls.jpg) - The third Duma was called in November 1907. - It was made up mainly of Octobrists, who won 154 of the 509 seats. The socialist Trudoviks lost 91 seats in this election. The Octobrists were members of a political party called the 'Union of October 17'. These politicians supported the commitments made by the tsar in the 1905 October Manifesto. - Because peasant and worker votes were worth less in the selection of the Duma, the third Duma was more moderate. - The third Duma worked reasonably well and showed that a 'constitutional monarchy' could work. ### Facts about the third Duma ![Facts about the third Duma](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/29e2a3d2-4f2d-48c2-a5d7-338de5962ca8/shutterstock_772928131.jpg) - It was still difficult for the tsar to pass legislation through parliament, instead of forcing it through using emergency decrees or martial law. - In the 5 year sitting of the third Duma, only 200 of 2,500 pieces of legislation proposed were approved by the Duma. - Speaking about the dissolution of the second Duma was taboo in Russia. Nobody was permitted to talk about it. ### The ante-Duma ![The ante-Duma](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/d6e52256-00f4-42e0-ae9e-750c9688a90d/shutterstock_662157991.jpg) - Stolypin created the 'Council on Local Economic Affairs', which was known as the 'ante-Duma'. - One member of the ante-Duma described the ante-Duma as a 'wise and undoubtedly useful' idea. - The proposed legislation was discussed by the ante-Duma before presenting it to the actual elected Duma. - This was an attempt to build consensus and seems to work a combination of a coalition and a pre-mortem (attempt to see what could go wrong before it does). ## The Decline & Death of Peter Stolypin Stolypin became more powerful. He was the Prime Minister of Russia, his reforms were working well, and he controlled the Duma and the ante-Duma. ### The naval budget of 1909 ![The naval budget of 1909](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-06/30b745ab-feb2-4680-b05b-bcfcab8b796c/dreadnought.jpeg) - In 1909, Stolypin passed the 'Naval General Staff Bill' through the Duma. - The Tsar and monarch had traditionally controlled the military. Tsar Nicholas II vetoed the bill. - The tsar thought that Stolypin was over-reaching and trying to claim too much power. ### What were the zemstva? ![What were the zemstva?](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/7f342b9a-0ce7-4461-ab0c-50093dd247b6/shutterstock_646322452.jpg) - Stolypin wanted to introduce 'zemstva' (local councils) in the west. - Stolypin threatened to resign over the matter but the tsar persuaded him to stay by agreeing to banish Stolypin's right-wing opponents (Durnovo and Trepov) who were undermining his 'zemstva'. - Everyone in the Duma waved Durnovo off at the train station in protest against Stolypin's abuse of power. - Stolypin also demanded confirmation of the decision in writing, destroying his relationship with Tsar Nicholas II by implying he did not trust him & his word. ### Stolypin's assassination in 1911 ![Stolypin's assassination in 1911](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/40afaf1e-7db0-472e-aec2-8e2c40a7002d/shutterstock_1013646568.jpg) - In 1911, Stolypin was ill and sickly. - On the 14th of September 1911, whilst watching the opera 'Tsar' Saltan', he was shot by Mordka Bogrov, a member of the Russian secret police. - World War 1 would put a halt to most of Stolypin's reforms. ## Test yourself on The Duma & Political Stalemate - When was the second Duma formed? - What was the 'Duma of national anger'? - Who were the Octobrists? - When did the tsar call the third Duma? - How long did the third Duma sit for in total? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/68cb5c28-b4d9-41f3-a315-2a7d3e63fc5e/section/b8071f60-55c7-49bd-83d7-aec010a7e62b/session) - Previous topic: [1.2.3 Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-3-reforming-russia-before-1914-stolypin.md) - Next topic: [1.3.1 The Impact of Military Defeats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-1-the-impact-of-military-defeats.md) ## History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945 contents ### 1 The End of Tsardom - 1.1 Russia's Economy & Society - [1.1.1 Industrialisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-1-industrialisation.md) - [1.1.2 Living & Working Conditions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-1-2-living-and-working-conditions.md) - 1.2 Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court - [1.2.1 Growth of Revolutionary Opposition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-1-growth-of-revolutionary-opposition.md) - [1.2.2 The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-2-the-1905-revolution-and-the-october-manifesto.md) - [1.2.3 Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-3-reforming-russia-before-1914-stolypin.md) - [1.2.4 The Duma & Political Stalemate](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-2-4-the-duma-and-political-stalemate.md) - 1.3 The First World War - [1.3.1 The Impact of Military Defeats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-1-the-impact-of-military-defeats.md) - [1.3.2 Social & Economic Effects of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-2-social-and-economic-effects-of-ww1.md) - [1.3.3 Romanov Unpopularity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-3-romanov-unpopularity.md) - [1.3.4 The Tsar's Abdication](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-4-the-tsars-abdication.md) - [1.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/1-3-5-top-grade-ao23-the-end-of-tsardom.md) ### 2 Lenin's New Society - 2.1 The Provisional Government - [2.1.1 The Failure of the Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-1-the-failure-of-the-government.md) - [2.1.2 Social & Economic Problems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-2-social-and-economic-problems.md) - [2.1.3 Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-3-lenin-and-trotsky.md) - [2.1.4 The Growth of the Bolsheviks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-4-the-growth-of-the-bolsheviks.md) - [2.1.5 The October / November Revolution](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-5-the-october-november-revolution.md) - [2.1.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-1-6-top-grade-ao23-the-provisional-government.md) - 2.2 The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship - [2.2.1 The End of the First World War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-1-the-end-of-the-first-world-war.md) - [2.2.2 The Cheka](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-2-the-cheka.md) - [2.2.3 Red Terror & Centralisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-3-red-terror-and-centralisation.md) - [2.2.4 The Civil War & The Red Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-4-the-civil-war-and-the-red-army.md) - [2.2.5 Propaganda](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-5-propaganda.md) - [2.2.6 Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-2-6-top-grade-ao23-early-bolshevism-and-the-civil-war.md) - 2.3 Social & Economic Developments - [2.3.1 War Communism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-1-war-communism.md) - [2.3.2 The Kronstadt Rising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-2-the-kronstadt-rising.md) - [2.3.3 The New Economic Policy (NEP)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-3-the-new-economic-policy-nep.md) - [2.3.4 The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-4-the-achievements-of-lenin-and-trotsky.md) - [2.3.5 Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/2-3-5-top-grade-ao23-social-and-economic-developments.md) ### 3 Stalin's USSR - 3.1 Stalin the Dictator - [3.1.1 The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-1-the-power-struggle-to-succeed-lenin.md) - [3.1.2 The Communist Party & Government](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-2-the-communist-party-and-government.md) - [3.1.3 The Terror & the Purges](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-3-the-terror-and-the-purges.md) - [3.1.4 The Secret Police](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-4-the-secret-police.md) - [3.1.5 Cult of Personality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-5-cult-of-personality.md) - [3.1.6 Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-6-propaganda-and-censorship-under-stalin.md) - [3.1.7 Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-1-7-top-grade-ao23-stalins-dictatorship.md) - 3.2 Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR - [3.2.1 Collectivisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-1-collectivisation.md) - [3.2.2 Five Year Plans](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-2-five-year-plans.md) - [3.2.3 Social & Economic Consequences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-3-social-and-economic-consequences.md) - [3.2.4 Social & Economic Consequences 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-4-social-and-economic-consequences-2.md) - [3.2.5 The Extent of Modernisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-2-5-the-extent-of-modernisation.md) - 3.3 Impact of the Second World War - [3.3.1 Stalin's Wartime Leadership](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-1-stalins-wartime-leadership.md) - [3.3.2 Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-2-political-economic-and-social-consequences-of-war.md) - [3.3.3 Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/aqa/3-3-3-top-grade-ao23-modernisation-of-the-ussr.md)