Duma

Explain political stalemate through the conflict between deputies seeking meaningful reform and Nicholas retaining the power to block laws and dissolve the Duma.

Support a judgement about stability with evidence on both sides: repression and more manageable Dumas strengthened the regime, but disappointed reformers and renewed strikes exposed continuing opposition.

Order Number 1 did not simply tell every Russian soldier to ignore government orders: it addressed the Petrograd garrison and made obedience to the Duma’s Military Commission conditional on agreement with Soviet orders.