1.
Introduction
a.
Poland
is largest European state previous to partitions
b.
Government
remained an older political structure and failed to develop modern systems
i.
No
army, no revenues, no administration, and no unity
2.
External
interference
a.
1733
War of Polish Succession
i.
two
Polish kings were Germans
ii.
infighting
led to weakness and call for reform and end of liberum veto
iii.
most
notorious outside interest Catherine the Great
1.
1763
Catherine supports Russian puppet in Poland
a.
Stanislas
Poniatowski
b.
Declares
herself the protector of Polish liberties
c.
Internally
divided Poland leaves opportunity for Russian influence the whole country
i.
Division
would lessen Russian influence
3.
The
first partition
a.
1772
Russia earns a stunning victory against Ottomans
b.
Fear
of balance of Power shifting to Russia causes Prussia to propose a partition of
Poland (making Prussia contiguous with Brandenburg)
i.
Russia,
Prussia, and Austria agree to partition to avoid war between Russia and Austria
1.
Ottoman
Turks are spared (weakening of empire is evident)
2.
Poland
is sacrificed
c.
Poles
redouble efforts at internal reform (elite class)
i.
Poniatowski
urges reforms as King
1.
New
constitution is issued
a.
King
is hereditary not elected strengthens monarchy
b.
Reduced
the power of the landed gentry
c.
Increased
the power of the burghers in the towns
d.
4.
The
second partition
a.
By
1791 fears of the French Revolution spreading to Europe leads Russia to
intervene in Polish reform efforts (Jacobins)
b.
1791
Catherine sends in Russian army with support of displaced nobles
c.
1793
Catherine and Prussia take another slice of Poland for each
5.
The
third partition
a.
1794
Liberal reform effort led by Thaddeus Kosciuszko
i.
Proposed
the abolition of serfdom
b.
Reform
effort is crushed in the wake of counterrevolution
c.
1795
Prussia and Russia invade with armies and divide the remainder of Poland
between Prussia, Austria, and Russia
6.
At
the time the partitions of Poland were praised as an end of a old nuisance and
an affirmation of enlightened rulers (enlightened despots)
a.
War
was prevented in Europe by diplomatic means
b.
Replaced
anarchy with solid government
c.
Partitions
fell around ethnic lines
7.
Burke
a.
Saw
the partitions as the beginning of the end for the old order in Europe
i.
Balance
of power was traditionally used to preserve states
ii.
In
Poland balance of power was used to destroy a “state”
8.
Alarming
that a state could disappear through cold diplomatic calculation
a.
No
established rights seem safe
b.
It
is dangerous not to be strong around giant states
i.
Africa,
India, Indo-China
9.
Partitions
changed the balance of power overall in Europe
a.
France
loses an ally in the east against Germany
b.
Save
the Poles becomes the nationalist rallying cry
c.
Three
great monarchies are drawn together in common opposition to national liberation
i.
Agrarian
economic base accentuated division between east (reactionary) and west
(liberal)
d.
Eastern
empires in Europe control territories until WWI
e.
Fall
under control of Soviet Union after WWII
f.
1980s
Poland re-establishes its national identity