Duma Dbq

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INTRODUCTION Investigating the question of ‘to what extent did the failed implementation of the State Duma beginning in 1906 result in a successful 1917 revolution’, requires looking at the purpose of the Duma, compared to its actual result. By looking specifically at the makeup of each of the four Dumas, and examining the political standpoints of each of the members, there is a trend apparent where more conservative people were placed as representatives. These representatives became more and more revolutionary and liberal as each Duma passed. This trend of increased support for revolution rather than reform did not only hold true for the State Dumas, but it accurately represented the overall atmosphere within Russia at the time. Whereas the …show more content…

There was a shift from discontent regarding the monarchy, to anger and violence. The success of the 1917 revolution was in part attributable to how united the people were now. The flawed Duma united all of the opposition to the Czar, and then gave them a place to debate and discuss the ways in which they would change the system. As the Czar did not allow to Duma to accomplish anything or pass significant legislation that would change the social life, the members of the Duma were left unhappy and angry. The next day another telegram was sent by the same general on the state of the strikes and uprisings. “I report that during the afternoon of February 25th, crowds of workers who had assembled at Znamenskaia Square and near the Kazan’ Cathedral were repeatedly dispersed by the police and the military. About 5pm demonstrators near the Gostinyi Dvor began to sing revolutionary songs and hoisted red flags with the inscriptions “Down with War!” In response to the warning that arms would be used against them, there came from the crowd several revolver shots, one of which wounded a soldier of the Ninth Reserve Cavalry Regiment in the head. A troop of dragoons dismounted and opened fire on the crowd, killing three and wounding ten men. The crowd dispersed immediately. Around 6pm a grenade was thrown at a detail of mounted gendarmes, wounding one gendarme and his horse. The …show more content…

It is the ‘reforms’ of the 1905 revolution that lead to a successful opposition in 1917. Overall the Duma was a leading factor in causing a successful opposition. Before a state Duma was created, there was no physical place for the political parties of Russia to meet, debate and discuss. This state assembly presented itself as a place where radical and revolutionary parties could gain support and spread their ideas of change. The Russian Social Democrat Party led by the Bolsheviks in 1917 used the Duma as a place where they could debate and discuss, ultimately leading to the division into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. It is this division that separated those who wanted to enact change and those who only talked about change. The beginning of the revolutions were very similar when looking at the 1905 and 1917

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