On May 3, 1971, the polish Sejm (parliament) adopted a constitiution. It was the first constitution of its type in Europe and the second ever in the world–second only after that of the United States 4 years earlier.
The Polish Constitution was groundbreaking in that it sought to balance the power of the nobility with the interests of the townspeople while bringing government protection to the peasants and thus mitigating some of the worst abuses of serfdom. It was truly a great attempt to create equality among all Poles.
Unfortunately, Poland’s neighbors, not really relishing the thought of equality–didn’t like it. It was a dangerous concept to them, one they feared would spread and bring justice and freedom and equality to their totalitarian/monarchical/anarchistic countries. And even within Poland, some of the nobility and rich landowners did not like giving up there control. So when their former friends, neighboring countries Prussia and Russia banded together to defeat Poland, that effort was joined by some Poles. This was called the Targowica Confederation coalition of Polish magnates and landless nobility who opposed reforms that might weaken their influence. King Stanisław August Poniatowski eventually capitulated by joining the Confederation. And so, because the powerful nobles got together with Poland’s now enemies, the partitioning of Poland began. Sad, very sad. Do this day, to be called a “targowicanin” is to be called a traitor.
And so, the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791 was in effect for a mere 14 months and 3 weeks, but for the next 123 years of partition, it remained a beacon in the struggle to restore Polish sovereignty. The authors of the Constitition called it “the last will and testament of the expiring Country.”
Of course, like Paul Harvey would have said, you already know “the rest of the story.” After 123 years of partition, Poland emerged after World War I (about 1920) as a sovereign nation once again, only to be defeated and beat down while its “friends” and “allies” watched at the start of World War II. And, though it emerged as a so called “free” (under Communist domination and control) country for the next 45 years, in 1990 Poland again regained its real sovreignty in 1990, led the world in the rejection and rebuke of Communism and it’s socialist ideologies, and today is one of the great nations of Europe, solid and strong–and proud. Truly an amazing history. And, if you don’t understand and know history, you’re in danger of repeating it…..
