Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2005-03-01 / 7. szám

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The Hungarian nation celebrates March 15 in rememberance of the liberation fight of the year 1848. This time we remember with pictures of Kossuth, mostly his visit to the United States

Hungary, having been ruled by the Habsburgs since the 16th century, was often subjugated and treated much likea colony. (There had beeen exceptions..) In an attempt to regain itsfreedom as a selfgoverning country, in 1848, encouraged

perhaps by the revolts in Paris, Milano, Vienna, Hungarian lawmakers and broad sections ofthe populace asked Ferdinand V (Habsburg monarch) to grant specific freedomsfor their country. At first acceeded, later rejected, the country rebelled against absolutism* as the ruling Habsburg monarchy sought to deprive it of democratic institutions and in effect annex the country into the Austrian empire. Hungarians demanded instead preservation of their

institutions, freedom of expression and the levelling of classes: rescind the nobility's tax exemption and- in effect- create a universal citizenship by abolishing serfdom.