The Third Duma
History: KS3, topic 17.2.6
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
- The third Duma was called in November 1907.
- It was made up mainly of Octobrists.
- The communist Trudoviks had lost a lot of seats in the 1907 election.
- The Octobrists were members of a political party called the 'Union of October 17'.
- They supported the commitments made by the tsar in the 1905 October Manifesto.
Moderation in the third Duma
- 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
- 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.
- It was not acceptable to talk about it.
The Council on Local Economic Affairs
- Stolypin created the 'Council on Local Economic Affairs'.
- One member of the Council described it as a 'wise and undoubtedly useful' idea.
- The proposed legislation was discussed by the Council before presenting it to the actual elected Duma.
- This was an attempt to build consensus.
- Consensus was built by creating a coalition (different parties/people working together) and checking what could go wrong before anything was put in motion.
The Decline & Death of Peter Stolypin
Stolypin became more powerful. Stolypin was the Prime Minister of Russia, his reforms were working well, and he controlled the Duma and the Council on Local Economic Affairs.
The naval budget of 1909
- In 1909 AD, Stolypin passed the 'Naval General Staff Bill' through the Duma.
- The Tsar 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 zemstvos?
- Stolypin wanted to introduce 'zemstvos' (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 'zemstvos'.
- Stolypin also demanded confirmation of the decision in writing.
- This destroyed his relationship with Tsar Nicholas II by implying he did not trust him or his word.
Stolypin's assassination in 1911
- In 1911, Stolypin was ill.
- On the 14th of September 1911, whilst watching the opera 'Tsar Saltan', he was shot.
- World War One ended most of Stolypin's reforms.
Test yourself on The Third Duma
Who were the Octobrists?
How long did the third Duma sit for in total?
What were the circumstances of Stolypin's death?
What were 'zemstvos'?
How did Stolypin use leverage to push through the zemstvos?