In the PRL, the celebration was banned on May 3. It was threatened with repression for celebrating it
Every year, the celebration of the National Day of the Third May, i.e. the anniversary of the adoption of the 3rd May Constitution, is solemn. Numerous attractions and happenings are customary throughout the country, including lectures on the history of Poland and the Constitution itself, exhibitions, masses, appeals of the fallen, military parades, as well as runs commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of May 3 and festivities with concerts.
This holiday was forbidden
May 3 was established in 1919 and They were celebrated until the first post -war years, Although, of course, during the occupation only conspiracy. During the third -Central celebrations in 1946, there were student protests and clashes with the militia and UB officers in several Polish cities. Many people were detained and convicted.
After these events, the communist authorities forbade public celebrations of the Constitution of May 3. In 1951, on May 3, he also ceased to be a day off from work. There was a risk of repression for trying to organize public celebrations. In the Stalinist period it even ended in a prison. After the « thaw » in 1956, the authorities generally did not approach it so strictly, but There was no question of restoring the holiday. The Constitution of May 3, and especially the celebration of the next anniversaries of its adoption, seemed very uncomfortable and suspicious for decision -makers.
The first attempt to break this collusion of silence was made during the so -called « Carnival of Solidarity » when In 1981, official celebrations were organized. The introduction of the war, of course, changed the situation. Inevitably, the holiday was taken over by the opposition operating in the underground. On this day, demonstrations and strikes were organized. The manifestation was particularly turbulent On May 3, 1982 in Warsaw, when there were serious clashes with ZOMO. Officially on May 3 he returned to the calendar of state holidays on April 6, 1990.
History of the 3rd May Constitution
The May 3 Constitution was adopted in 1791. The act was the crowning of the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski. According to Akid.pl website, however, its roots are much deeper. From the beginning of the 18th century, various ideas of deep political reforms were created in Poland. Enlightenment political writers, such as Stanisław Dunin-Karwicki, Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski, Stanisław Leszczyński and Stanisław Konarski, criticized in their works a system based on the principle of Liberum Veto and the weaknesses of the executive power, and proposed new ways to exercise governments in the Commonwealth.
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From December 1790, they met in secret The most important representatives of the reform camp: Stanisław Małachowski, 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, the shape of the reform was considered, including Analyzing the American Constitution and the works of the French National Assembly.
Poland threatened another partition
On the morning of May 3, 1791, after opening the Sejm sessions, properly selected diplomatic messages were read that Poland is threatened with another partition. Ignacy Potocki turned to the king: – That you would discover your views to save your homeland. Poniatowski replied that it was a great reform. The adoption of the government act was immediately voted. The king swore the constitution: – I swore God, I won’t regret it.
Eleven articles of the Constitution were introduced by the Tri -Power, hereditary monarchy, legal care for peasants and the bourgeoisie and endured liberum veto. The Sejm was to be convened every two years; After a quarter of a century – that is In 1819, the Extraordinary Sejm was to change the constitution.
The Act on May 3 did not manage to reverse the partitions, save the nation’s independence, and saved it in terms of internal repair, saved it from the eternal Zakały. The whole nation welcomed it eagerly and to this day it is the only node of the torn Poland
-This is how the Constitution of May 3 was summed up by a nineteenth-century journalist and an emigration activist, the Lojanusz Woronicz.
Source: Media, Awage.pl, PAP
(TSEO/MSOB)
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This article first appeared on the website of Fakt on 20.08.2021.
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Konrad Koczywąs / Newspix.pl
The Constitution of May 3 adopted in 1791.
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Reproduction: Andrzej Szypowski / East News
The adoption of the constitution became one of the topics that Jan Matejko took up in his historical painting.
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