Brief History of Finland in 25
minutes
Welcome to Finland Fulbright
grantees!
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
1
Introduction
• Petteri Granat (MA)
– University of Tampere
– Ohio State University
• History, philosophy and
social studies teacher at
Vaskivuori Upper
Secondary School in
Vantaa, Finland since
2006
• Fulbright Distinguished
Award in Teaching grantee 2014 (Indiana
University)
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
2
Prehistoric time (until 12th century)
• End of Ice Age (12 000
years ago), formation of
lakes & eskers
• By the end of Iron Age
(1 000 years ago)
formation of major
tribes
– Finns, Karelians,
Tavastians, Sami people
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
3
Prehistoric time (until 12th century)
Border based on Pähkinäsaari
treaty 1323
• Origin of Finns?
– River Volga in Russia,
theory based on
language
– Fennougric people (e.g.
Estonians, Hungarians)
– Modern genetics: east
vs. west, common
features with central
European people
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
4
Finland as a part of Sweden (from 12th
century until 1809)
• PLEASE NOTE:
– Finland was not a
”state”, rather an
”eastern province”
– Smaller geographical
area
• Integration to Europe
– Catholic church,
legislation, education
• Border country
between east and west
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
5
Finland as a part of Sweden (from 12th
century until 1809)
• Gustav I (1496-1560)
– Reformation
• His son John (later king John
III) was the Duke of Finland
(1556-1563)
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
6
Finland as a part of Sweden (from 12th
century until 1809)
• Sweden, a European
superpower (17th
century)
• Declining superpower
(18th century)
King Charles XII died in Norway, allegedly
killed by his own soldiers.
– Finland was occupied
twice by the Russians
• The Great Wrath 1714-21
• The Lesser Wrath 1741-43
He was beaten by Peter the Great in
Great Northern War (1700-1721) starting
the downfall of Swedish empire
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
7
Grand Duchy of
Finland (1809-1917)
• Treaty of Tilsit 1807
– Napoleon & Alexander I
– Finnish War 1808-1809
• Finland annexed to Russia
Economic and political development,
Especially under Alexander II
Wide autonomy: Senate, House of
estates, taxation…
New capital Helsinki (1812)
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
8
Grand Duchy of
Finland (1809-1917)
• Policy of Russification
1899-1905 & 19081917
• Universal suffrage and
eligibility 1906
Above: assasination of Governor-General
Bobrikov by Eugen Schauman in 1904
Right: 19 out of 200 MP’s in the first
parliament (1907) were women
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
9
Independence
• Background:
– Nationalism in Europe
(19th and 20th century)
– Bolshevik revolution in
Russia (1917)
– Growing popularity of
socialism in Finland
26.1.2016
• Declaration of
Independence
approved by Finnish
parliament on
December 6th 1917
• Independence - A gift
from Lenin?
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
10
One of the few existing Leninmuseums in the world in Tampere
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
11
From 1917 to 1945
• Civil War of 1918, Reds
vs. Whites
– Terror on both sides
– Prison camps after the
war
• 1920’s and 1930’s:
”White Finland”
– Ban on socialism,
extreme right movement
– BUT ALSO: policy of
reconstruction
(especially crofters)
• Prohibition 1919-1932
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
12
There were about 8000 POWs in
Suomenlinna Fortress
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
13
From 1917 to 1945
• World War II
– Finland vs. Soviet Union
• Winter War 1939-1940
• Continuation War 19411944
– Finland vs. Germany
• War of Lapland 19441945
• Was Finland fighting
alongside Germany or
in alliance with it?
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
14
Post WWII - Foreign affairs
• Cold War until 1990’s
– Neutrality (president
Kekkonen)
– In the shadow of the
Soviets, Finlandization
• UN member 1955 ->
• EU member 1995 ->
• Euro member 1999
(cash 2001) ->
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
15
Post WWII - Internal affairs
• Baby boomers 1946-1950
• Mass movement to the
cities
• Emigration to Sweden
(and back) 1960’s and
1970’s
• Economic growth…
• …and the Downfall 1990’s
followed by Nokia
• Welfare state
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
16
Thank you for your attention!
[email protected]
Twitter: @petterigranat
Find me on Facebook and friend me!
26.1.2016
Fulbright orientation/ Petteri Granat
17