How a Nation Outlived its State-Polish Partitions and their Impact on the Citizens of the Former Commonwealth

Abstract

Poland was once Europe's second biggest state after Russia. Due to its inherent internal weaknesses the huge country was partitioned off between its three aggressive neighbors Russia, Austria and Prussia during the second half of the eighteenth century. The First Partition occurred in 1772 and spurred the Poles to redouble their efforts at reform, culminating in Europe's first written constitution in 1791. The Second and Third partitions ensured the final collapse of Poland and its final removal from the political map of Europe in 1795.