The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, once a powerful European entity, had seen its golden age wane due to internal conflicts and the manipulative politics of neighboring powers.

The liberum veto, a parliamentary procedure allowing any member of the parliament to terminate the current session and nullify any legislation already passed, had paralyzed the nation’s political system.

This, coupled with the First Partition of Poland in 1772 by Russia, Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, highlighted the urgent need for reform.

Influenced by the Enlightenment and the recent American Constitution, Polish reformers, including King Stanisław August Poniatowski and prominent figures like Hugo Kołłątaj and Ignacy Potocki, sought to strengthen the state through a new constitution.

The May 3 Constitution aimed to transform the Commonwealth into a more effective constitutional monarchy. Its establishment is celebrated each year by both Poland and Lithuania.

What were the hopes and the political atmosphere surrounding this great initiative? Join Jan Darasz and his guest: Marcin Kaczorowski a historian at the Memory of Nations Foundation, in this episode of How We Got Here to learn the fascinating story of the May 3rd Constitution.

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