Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
HOW FINLAND BECAME INDEPENDENT?
A year 1917 in Finnish history The February Revolution in Russia (by the Gregorian calendar in March) the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II power to the Provisional Government restoration of the Finland’s constitutional rights the Russification was abolished the appointment of an all-party Senate (government) led by social democrat Oskari Tokoi
2
a dilemma: What institution exercised sovereign authority after the overthrow of the Tsar?
there was three different solutions to the problem: a) the Provisional Government ( supported by the majority of the non- socialist parties) b) the Finnish Parliament (the Eduskunta) should decide who exercised supreme authority (supported by the minority of the non-socialist parties) c) the supreme authority of Finland is the Finnish Parliament (the social democrats) * Consider reasons for the different attitudes of the political groups.
3
Results of the Parliamentary elections in 1916
Party Votes % Seats +/– (change from 1913 elections) Social Democratic Party of Finland 376,030 47.29 103 +13 Finnish Party 139,111 17.49 33 –5 Young Finnish Party 99,419 12.50 23 –6 Swedish People's Party 93,555 11.76 21 –4 Agrarian League 71,608 9.00 19 +1 Christian Workers' Union 14,626 1.84 1 Others 860 0.11 – Invalid/blank votes 5,725 Total 800,934 100 200 Registered voters/turnout 1,442,091 55.5 Source: Mackie & Rose[3]
4
The Social Democrats had an absolute majority in Parliament (103 seats of 200)
on 18th July Parliament approved an Enabling Act (’Valtalaki’) declaring itself to exercise supreme authority within Finland (law was supported also by some independence-minded non-socialists) Parliament was dissolved by the Russian Provisional government the new elections
5
Results of the Parliamentary elections in 1917
Party Votes % Seats +/– Social Democratic Party of Finland 444,670 44.79 92 –11 Finnish Party–Young Finnish Party–People's Party[a] 299,516 30.17 61 +5 Agrarian League 122,900 12.38 26 +7 Swedish People's Party 108,190 10.90 21 Christian Workers' Union 15,489 1.56 –1 Others 1,997 0.20 – Invalid/blank votes 4,903 Total 997,665 100 200 Registered voters/turnout 1,441,075 69.2 Source: Mackie & Rose[3] These three parties had an electoral alliance: Finnish Party (32 seats) the Young Finnish Party (24) and the People's Party (5).
6
in 1917 elections SDP got (only) 92 seats
The October Revolution by the Bolsheviks on 7th November the Council of People’s Comissars lead by Lenin seized power (from 3 to 10 min) the SDP formed a Central Revolutionary Council announced a general strike for 14th November lots of acts of violence (esp. by the Red Guards and Russian soldiers) on 15th November the Finnish Parliament decided to exercise supreme authority in Finland ( supported noe by the non-socialists)
7
On 4th December: the new Senate led by P. E
On 4th December: the new Senate led by P.E. Svinhufvud (’the Independence Senate) made public a Declaration of the Independence The declaration was supported by Parliament on 6th December which became known as Independence Day
8
Foreign recognitions:
the government turned to western governments in order to confirm Finland’s independent status but they did not promise to recognise it before the recognition of the Soviet Russia On 31st December Soviet government recognized the independence of Finland Study the list of the international recognitions:
9
Why did the Soviet Russia recognize Finland’s separation?
1) The Bolsheviks had promised the right of the minority peoples to self-government and even a complete independence 2) The Bolsheviks believed that the recognition would increase the popularity of the socialists and the Soviet government in Finland a potential revolution in Finland Finland would be reunited with the Soviet Russia 3) The weak position of the new Bolshevik government The civil war had begun in Russia
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.