Today is the 225th anniversary of the Constitution of May 3. It shaped the political system of the Republic only for several months. The celebration of the national holiday will begin with a solemn Mass for the intentions of the homeland in the Warsaw Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. It will be attended by President Andrzej Duda.
Adopted on 3 May 1791 r. Government Act was the culmination of the reign of Stanislaw August Poniatowski. Its roots are much deeper. Already from the beginning of the eighteenth century. Poland formed various ideas of deep political reforms. Enlightenment political writers such as Stanislaw Dunin-Karwicki, Jan Stanislaw Jabłonowski, Stanislaw Leszczynski and Stanislaw Konarski, criticized in his works system based on the principle of liberum veto and the weakness of the executive branch and proposed new ways of governance in the Republic.
“the Polish nation in the final stages of collapse,” – wrote “Monitor”, one of the most influential magazines of political reformist camp in 1763. state of the Republic was indeed disastrous. Poland from the late seventeenth century. Was not a sovereign state. During the reign of the Saxon dynasty it became a protectorate of Russia, which was eternally guarantee the freedom and security. In fact, the beautiful phraseology concealed a brutal domination and political chaos. In particular, the fact that “Poland is fornication,” was shown at the end of the sixties, ie the period of the Confederation of Bar.
partition of Polish caused the kind of breakthrough in thinking about the reforms of the state. Known through gesture Tadeusz Rejtana Partition Sejm, besides agreeing to the partition, also created the National Education Commission. No coincidence that the four most important writers of the Constitution were associated with the Commission. This and other initiatives beginning of the reign of Poniatowski, such as the Knights’ School, were the basis for efforts to recover the sovereignty of the Republic. Partition Sejm at the request of Russia has also created the Permanent Council, which is a kind of council of ministers, the aim of which was to limit the powers of the king and plans for deep reforms.
In the late 80s the international situation changed in favor of the Republic. The outbreak of the Russo-Turkish and turning to her Austria made the King Stanislaw August Poniatowski decided to use this situation to strengthen his power and independence of Catherine II. The road to this goal may seem surprising. Convened in 1788. Parliament had to approve an alliance of Polish-Russian and turning to war with Turkey. Meanwhile, among the nobility gathered at the parliament prevailed the desire to break the union in Russia.
The first step was the removal of the Permanent Council. Confederated Parliament, in which it was impossible to use the Liberum Veto, began the implementation of reforms. At the end of 1788. Passed larger army of approx. 20 to 100 thousand. soldiers. At the end of next year, the streets of Warsaw passed several thousand so-called. black procession burghers, demanding equality in some of the rights of the nobility.
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Since December 1790. secretly they met the most important representatives of the reformist camp: Stanislaw Malachowski, Hugo Kołłątaj, Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, Ignacy Potocki and Tadeusz Matuszewicz. Over time, their number reached 60 people enjoying the support of the king. During the meetings, thought was given to the shape of the reform, including analyzing the American Constitution and the work of the French National Assembly.
Their actions accelerated the deterioration of the international situation. Voting on bill amending the constitution is scheduled for just after Easter, when the majority of members still lived in their remote often hundreds of kilometers courts. May 2, 1791 r. In the Radziwill Palace (now the president) read the bill. On the same day at home, Russian Ambassador debated opponents of reform.
On the morning of May 3, 1791 r. After the opening of the session of the Sejm read properly chosen diplomatic cables showing that Poland threatens another partition. Ignatius Potocki said to the king, “you found us your views towards saving the country.” Poniatowski said that it is the enactment of major reform. Immediately outvoted adoption Government Act. The king swore the Constitution: “I have sworn to God, I will not regret this.”
At the same time in front of the Royal Castle obstawionym by the command of Prince Jozef Poniatowski in Warsaw garrison troops gathered the enthusiastic crowd. Among his evening to the nearby Cathedral. John went MPs led by Marshal Stanislaw Malachowski, to swear a new law. King to the cathedral for safety went linking it with the Castle direct access.
The eleven articles of the Constitution introduced a separation of powers, hereditary monarchy, legal custody of peasants and townspeople, and abolished the liberum veto. Parliament was to be convened every two years; after a quarter of a century – that is, in 1819. – Sejm extraordinary had to change the Constitution.
Fall and legend
A year after the adoption of the Constitution of the Great Parliament is still debated by passing another bill building a new system. May 3, 1792 r. King in the vicinity of the Baths laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Temple of Divine Providence, designed to be a vote for the adoption of the Constitution. During the ceremony raging gale, which was taken as a bad omen. At the same time, the borderlands of the Republic in the town of Mart gathered magnates striving together with Catherine II to overthrow the new regime. A few months later they took power, nullifying most of the laws of the Great Diet. It was also the moment of starting the final collapse of the Republic.
The Constitution was the symbol of the pursuit of national revival throughout the period of the partitions. References to the Constitution of May 3 were in the Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw. In 1815. Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland, giving himself Tsar Alexander I suggested that the link to the Act of 3 May 1791.
Along with leaving the scene witnesses era constitution became a myth for living under occupation. In the 32 anniversary of the adoption of the fifteen-year high school student of Vilnius he wrote on a blackboard “Vivat Constitution of May 3″. His colleagues turned up the following: “How sweet memories for us countrymen, but you have no one to be reprimanded for it.” This event was the beginning of the persecution of Vilnius youth.
The nineteenth-century views on the Constitution can be summarized in words of one of the activists of emigration after the November Uprising Janusz Woronicza: “The law on May 3 failed to reverse the longer partitions, save the independence of the nation, saved him, however, the the inner repair, saved from eternal zakały. I eagerly greeted the whole nation, and today it is the only node Polish torn to pieces. “
celebration
Before noon in the ballroom of the Royal Castle President will present state awards. In a recent interview with PAP Andrzej Duda he said that May 3 is to be expected the awards ceremony of the White Eagle. He announced then that will want to honor those exceptionally deserved for the Polish state.
During the ceremony, scheduled speech of the president. Andrzej Duda also deliver a speech during the ceremony, which will begin at noon on the Castle Square. In the afternoon, in the gardens of the Presidential Palace to meet with invited guests, including the diplomatic corps. In the evening, they planned an outdoor event “Vivat May third maj”, which will be held in Warsaw Theatre Square. In Warsaw will host a historical walk, commemorating the 225th anniversary of the Constitution of May 3.
Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs run after
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Defence and Diplomatic Corps in Warsaw, running over a distance 5 km commemorate the 225th anniversary of the Constitution of May 3. At the same time will promote the July NATO summit at the National Stadium.
– group is easy to recognize because it is dressed in occasional T-shirts with the logo of the top of the chest – said Marcin Kuriata with Capital Sports Centre Active WARSAW, which is the organizer of the event.
As pointed out in recent years have become a tradition of charity. Taking part in the 26th Run of the Constitution of May 3 will be able to help Emil of five years.
– The boy was born with a complex congenital heart defect. A chance for his recovery and saving his life is a heart surgery in the US. If 200 players on Tuesday pinned to shirts card “I’m running for Emil” and you will arrive with her to the finish line, the Foundation for Polish PKO Bank will donate to the treatment the boy – said Kuriata.
Start will be in the chair. 11 Al. Hopfer Park (Agricola). The route leads through the streets: Łazienkowska, Czerniakowska, Szwoleżerów, Agricola, Al. Ujazdowskie, Wiejska, Upper Silesia, Hoene-Wronski to finish at Rozbrat. Half an hour earlier run after children with their favorite mascot.
Author: DLN / kk / PAP
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