COURSE TWO ­ THE HISTORY OF MODERN FINLAND 1 The content of the course; 1) We will begin by trying to get an image of the Finnish past. The influence through time from both east and west. 2) After this we'll discuss the Russian time (1808­1917) mainly focusing on the later part. Finland's role as a autonomous Grandduchy and the influence of Worldeconomy and ­politics. 3) The main focus will be on this century and Finland as an independent state 2 The prehistory of Finland. Archaeological finds of the 1990s indicate that there was probably human settlement in Finland more than 100,000 years ago. Until very recently it has been thought that the first people to arrive did not come until just over 10,000 years ago during the Mesolithic period. Finds from the warm interglacial period before the last Ice Age had been limited to plant and animal remains, including mammoth bones and teeth. There had been no discoveries of anything suggesting human activity this far back. 3 The Roman historian Tacitus writes about the Fenni, a people of the north. This is the first reference to the Finns in recorded history. (98A.D.) Finland­a territory which has always been inhabited by foreigners moving in small groups from the west, east and the south. 4 The Vikings visited Finland on their journeys eastwards but didn't settle down. When the Vikings converted to Christianity and the Christian church was divided in to two Finland became something of a battleground between the churches. Myths about Swedish crusades in the 12:th century existed but have never been proven 5 In the early 14:th century Novgorod (Russia`s leading city) and Sweden battled in Finland and the result was the first peace and the first border between east and west (The treaty at Pähkinänsaari 1323). The western and southern parts of Finland became part of Sweden and the western European cultural sphere while eastern Finland became part of the Russo­Byzantine world. 6 THE SWEDISH REIGN FREEDOM is the most important heritage Finland acquired from its Nordic past. The Finns never experienced feudalism and were never enslaved (compare with Russia). Swedish rule and the authority of the Catholic church solidified (blev solidare, fastare) their position in Finland during the 13th century The declaration of 1362 by the Swedish King decreed that "each time when a new King has to be elected, the LAGMAN must be present, accompanied by elected peasant representatives, to select a king on behalf of the people of the Province of the Eastland" This declaration established the right of the free peasants to participate in the election of the Swedish king. 7 During the Sweden­Finland period such Nordic traditions and institutions as religious practices, a system of justice, education and public administration took root in Finland. In the 16th century, following the reformation, the work of advancing Finnish culture and literacy got under way when religious texts were translated to Finnish. Swedish civil and criminal codes remained in effect throughout the period of Russian rule. 8 During the 600 years of Swedish rule Finland and the Finns suffered from constant warfare. Not one longer period of peace (25 years) and often Finland was the battleground. When the rivalry with Russia calmed down (17:th century) the province was 'forgotten' by Stockholm. 9 Gustav III:s coup détat Of even more lasting importance was the promulgation ﴾utfärdande﴿ in 1772 constitution﴿ and 1789 ﴾Act of Union and Security﴿ of the constitutional laws in which﴾ the power of government became concentrated in the hands of the King ﴾these laws were part of a coup d'etat in Sweden and designed for enlighted despotism﴿. As this constitution was to remain unchanged until 1919 and during the period of Russification were interpreted differently by the Finns and the Russian authorities it will be referred to during this course. Some remnants of this law can also be seen in the form of Government Law of 1919 which established the government of independent Finland. This is also one historical explanation to why the President in Finland has quite extended powers. 10 FINLAND BECOMES AN AUTONOMOUS RUSSIAN GRAND DUCHY The deal made between Alexander I and Napoleon at Tilsit in 1807. Alexander promised Napoleon that he would persuade Sweden to participate in The blockade against Britain. When the Swedish king Gustav IV didn't respond to diplomatic means , military coercion was resorted to. Alexander probably never intended to annex Finland but as the Russian forces succeeded in occupying the country without much Swedish resistance he decided it could be an option. 11 The peace of Hamina ﴾1809﴿ established the present­day border between Finland and Sweden along Tornio river and ceded the Åland Islands to Russia. Viipuri province, which Sweden had already lost in 1743 was returned to Finland in 1812. To pacify the Finns, and maybe also as an experiment of liberalism ﴾at the time Alexander was open ﴿to liberal ideas which definitely wasn't the case after the devastating war against Napoleon Alexander I gave Finland a special autonomous status as a Grand Duchy with himself as grand duke, within the Russian Empire. All legislation was separated entirely from Russian administration. The consequence of this was that Finland and Russia were united into a personal union with the ruler as the sole uniting factor. The Grand duke was to be represented in Finland by a General Governor who also would be the chairman of the Imperial Senate ﴾government﴿ which members were appointed by the grand duke. 12 Alexander I called for the Finnish estates to meet in Porvoo on March 28, 1809. At this meeting Alexander pledged that Finland could retain its rights under the Swedish constitution, its religion, and special privileges of the Finnish estates﴾the promise could easily be done as this constitution had been designed for totalitarian rule﴿. Legaslative changes could only be done with the estates and the ruler but the ruler wasn't obliged to assemble the estates ﴾which in fact didn't happen until .﴿1863 The coat of Arms of the Grandduchy of Finland 1809­1917 13 EXPLAINING THE LIBERAL TREATMENT • Alexander I and his advisers liberals • The Swedish constitution designed for totalitarianism • Fear of the Finnish reaction in case of war against France. 14 CHANGES: Helsinki the new capital 1812 • Swedish loyal of Turku • Closer to St:Petersburg 'Old Finland' reunited with the country 1812 • Expansion of the autonomy to the areas lost 1743 The university (ÅA) moved to Helsinki • Turku fire 1827 'The Empress stone' (1833) The first monument built in Helsinki to honour the visit of the ruling couple to the capital city and the constructionworks. 15 REACTIONARY RULE • The 'Napoleonic wars' affected the ruler • The Vienna congress and the 'Holy Alliance'. • The diet wasn't assembled 1809­ 1863 • Nikolaj I • Censorship with strict political control • Stagnation as no legislative development could take place 16 THE CRIMEAN WAR 1853­56 • Nikolaj I died and was replaced with Alexander II. • The war spread to Finland 1854, strengthened the ties with Russia. • Liberalism of the new ruler 17 REFORMPOLICY Alexander II assembled the diet in 1863 which resulted inn a period of development and reforms. • The Dietreform of 1869 ­The diet had to assemble every 5, later every 3 year. ­Expanded representation ­Expanded powers What problems did Alexander II face in 1855 and how far was he succesful in solving them? 18 THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF FINLAND. Background; • the industrial revolution, late 18:th century (Britain, Belgium, Sweden) • liberalism of AlexanderII 19 CONDITIONS OF PRODUCTION • Labour • Capital • Energy • Know­how • Demand • Communication 20 The industrial breakthrough didn't take place before the 1860's. The transition was quite slow and concerned almost only the woodworking industry. FORESTRY • Watermills (16:th century) • Tarproduction, the most important product of export • Steampower, restricted until 1857 due to fear of deficiency • Paperproduction, 1842 (Frenckell) • Saima channel (1856) • Industrial towns, Kemi, Kotka • Government of forestry 1859 • Worldexhibitions from 1867, exhibition of industry and art in Helsinki 1876 The Finnish pavillion in Paris 1900. Gesellius, Lindgren and Saarinen. 21 THE RAILWAY • Helsinki­Hämeenlinna 1862 • Riihimäki­St:Petersburg 1870 • Track connected to Russia 1908 22 ECONOMIC REFORMS • Right to take initiative in legislative matters 1886 • Decentralisation, the cities and municipalities received most of the clerical duties (education, healthcare, infra structure) but also the right of taxation • The language reform(1863) ­ Finnish an official language within 20 years. • Stock companies (1864) • Law of free enterprice ­ the right to buy/sell everywhere (1879) • Law of banks (1864) ­made it possible to start bankingactivity. Necessary to acumulate investments. • The Finnish National Bank ­National currency 1860 23 SOCIO­ECONOMIC HISTORY OF THE LATE 19:th CENTURY The rising value of the forests and the need for investments in farming ﴾if one wanted to :continue as a farmer﴿ resulted in Farming became one sector in the industrialization of the society ﴾The mechanisation of ﴿1 .﴿the agriculture A growing rift between rich ﴾big﴿ and poor﴾small ­ crofter﴿ farmers. Numerous crofters ﴿2 ﴿and landless farmers had were forced to give up look for a new ﴾usually not very attractive life in the industrial sector as industryworkers. 24 Revolts and upheaval. Crowfters forced to leave their livelihood. The last years of famine 1867­68. Massmigration and misery 25 Quite a few farmer became dependant on a bank ﴾big debts﴿. When the farms﴾and forests﴿ suddenly became ﴿3 valuable it resulted in problems when the hereditary domains had to be divided. This usually resulted in that the farms were divided in to smaller ones or that one heir had to become dependant to a bank to buy out the other heirs.