3. Stolypin and the Dumas

Question 1

Stolypin

Answer 1

Stolypin’s (1906-1911) constitutional reforms meant that 3.5 out of the 130 million Russians were able to vote in the election of the 3rd Duma
Stolypin’s agricultural reforms destroyed peasant communes in November 1906
By 1915, about 15 per cent could be realistically classed as kulaks.
Stolypin’s neckties dealt with thousands of peasants and nearly 60,000 political detainees were executed
Assassinated September 1911

Question 2

First Duma

Answer 2

The First Duma (April, 1906):
Incredibly hostile toward the Tsar which led to its immediate dissolution.

Question 3

Second Duma

Answer 3

The Second Duma (February, 1907):
The Kadets and moderates lost out to the Left of Russian politics which took over 200 seats.
Referred to as the “The Duma of National Anger”, it dissolved after only three months (First / Second Dumas lasted 176 days).

Question 4

Third Duma

Answer 4

The peasantry and working class were excluded from the voting process.

Question 5

Fourth Duma

Answer 5

The Fourth Duma initially supported the Tsar campaign but eventually attempted again to convince him to seek Constitutional Democracy.

Question 6

Historian Interpretations:

Answer 6

Pipes - “… Stolypin stood head and shoulders above”
Pallot - “…in essence a utopian project {referring to Stolypin’s reforms}”

Question 7

Rising Tensions (1906-1912)

Answer 7

April, 1912 - Lena Goldfields Strike (200 Deaths)
Over 2,000 Strikes in 1912 // Over 3,500 Strikes in 1914
By 1914, 64% of the urban working class were literate
By 1914, 40% of the general population were literate
105,000 (1910) Strikers - Near 1,500,000 (1914) Strikers
50% of SRs were Urban Working Class
Available consumer goods fell from 52% to 45% (disproportionate distribution)
2000 landowners were represented by one deputy and 90,000 workers were represented by one deputy.