2.7) Changes to local government 1855-1964

Question 1

What were the Zemstvas and when were they introduced?

Answer 1

• In 1864 alexander II introduced the Zemstva
• The Zemstva were regional councils with:
  An elected membership voted by landowners, peasents and urban dewllers. (electors must have property qualification)

And Zemstvas had to be located in areas considered to be part of Great Russia

Question 2

What were the Dumas and when were they introduced?

Answer 2

• In 1870 the Duma were introduced
• It was an urban equivalent of the Zemstva and the entry qualifications were even harder, excluding the urban proletariat

Question 3

What was the Third Element?

Answer 3

• By the end of the 19th century the central government was very irritated with the Duma ans Zemstvas.
• Leading some provinces to be dominated by lawyers, teachers and doctors who demanded the central govenment remodelled them.

Question 4

Why and when were the Duma and Zemstva abolished?

Answer 4

1917 they were abolished due to the third element, as it presented them as bourgeois and counter-revolutionary

Question 5

What were Soviets and its aims?

Answer 5

• Worker’s councils which emerged in St Petersburg at the time of the October Manifesto
• Aimed to coordinate strikes and protect factory workers
• 1917 the council was offically referred to as the Petrograd Soviet of Worker’s Deputies and the Bolsheviks began to dominate

Question 6

What was the power of the Soviets?

Answer 6

• From** March to October 1917** the Petrograd controlled Russia
• They dictated strikes, had control over central services like army
• They had order no 1