Proč nebylo Československo republikou hned od 28. října 1918?

Abstract

The study deals with the problems connected with the republican form of newly established Czechoslovak state. The Czechoslovak state was solemnly proclaimed in Prague on 28 October 1918 by the Czechoslovak National Committee, which issued the first Czechoslovak Act on the Establishment of the Independent Czechoslovak State, which was published as Act No. 11 of a new Czechoslovak Collection of Laws. A decision on a republican form of government was postponed until negotiations with the Czechoslovak politicians in exile took place in Switzerland. The delegation of the Provisional Government, headed by Edvard Beneš, reached an agreement with the representatives of the National Committee, headed by Kramář, on an independent Czechoslovakia and on its republican form. The republic was finally proclaimed by the Provisional Constitution of 13 November 1918. The delay was caused not only by the revolutionary circumstances connected with the end of WWI, but also because the idea of republic was connected with far reaching democratic political, economic and social reforms and the political leaders of the Czech nation had to accept this.