Jaan Tõnisson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jaan Tõnisson
2nd and 4th Prime Minister of Estonia
In office 18 November 1919 – 28 July 1920
Preceded by	Otto August Strandman
Succeeded by	Ado Birk
In office 30 July 1920 – 26 October 1920
Preceded by	Ado Birk
Succeeded by	Ants Piip
8th and 15th State Elder of Estonia
In office 9 December 1927 – 4 December 1928
Preceded by	Jaan Teemant
Succeeded by	August Rei
In office 18 May 1933 – 21 October 1933
Preceded by	Konstantin Päts
Succeeded by	Konstantin Päts
Personal details
Born	(1868-12-22)22 December 1868 Viiratsi Parish, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
Died	presumably 1941 (aged 72)
Nationality	Estonian
Political party	Progressive People's Party (1905–1917) Democratic Party (1917–1919) Estonian People's Party (1919–1932) National Centre Party (1932–1935) later none
Alma mater	University of Tartu
Profession	lawyer, newspaper editor, politician

Jaan Tõnisson (born December 22, 1868, near Tänassilma – disappeared 1941, likely in Tallinn) was an important Estonian statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice between 1919 and 1920. He was also the State Elder (head of state and government) from 1927 to 1928 and again in 1933. Later, he was the Foreign Minister of Estonia from 1931 to 1932.

Early Life and Education

Jaan Tõnisson was born on December 22, 1868, near Tänassilma, in what was then the Russian Empire. He grew up during a time called the Estonian national awakening. This was a period when Estonians became more aware of their unique culture and wanted more rights. These ideas inspired him from a young age.

Tõnisson went to school in his local parish and then to high school in Viljandi. He later studied law at the University of Tartu. There, he joined the Estonian Students' Society. This group was very important for the national movement. Tõnisson became its chairman, where he met Villem Reimann, a leader of the national movement.

Political Career and Estonian Independence

Leading the National Movement

During this time, the Russian Empire tried to make everyone speak Russian and follow Russian customs. This was called Russification. Many Estonian groups were closed. Jaan Tõnisson and other students began to speak out against this. They found support among other Estonians.

In 1893, Tõnisson became the editor of Postimees, the biggest Estonian newspaper. He helped start the Tartu Renaissance. This was a time when Estonians worked to weaken the Russification policy. In 1896, Tõnisson and his friends bought Postimees. It became a key voice for the national movement. Tõnisson believed in a strong, moral nationalism that respected other nations.

Tõnisson also worked to improve the Estonian economy. He helped set up the first farming co-operatives in Estonia. He also started the Estonian Loan and Savings Society.

In 1901, Konstantin Päts started a new Estonian newspaper. This began a rivalry between Postimees and the new Teataja. It also created a political rivalry between Jaan Tõnisson and Konstantin Päts. Tõnisson led the "moralist" side of the national movement. Päts focused more on economic growth.

Early Steps in Politics

Tõnisson did not support Estonians joining the Russian Revolution of 1905. However, he strongly protested against the harsh punishments given in Estonia by the Russian government. Because he didn't join the revolution, he avoided being sent away, unlike Konstantin Päts.

After the revolution, Emperor Nicholas II had to give people more political freedoms. Tõnisson used this chance to gain more rights for Estonians. He created the first Estonian political party, the Estonian National Progress Party. This party supported nationalist and liberal ideas. It also wanted constitutional rights. The party was moderate. It did not support the revolution but wanted Estonians to have equal rights with Russians and Baltic Germans.

In December 1905, Tõnisson organized a meeting of Estonian representatives in Tartu. Many representatives wanted Jaan Teemant, who supported the revolution, to be chairman instead of Tõnisson. Tõnisson and his moderate supporters left the meeting.

In 1906, Tõnisson was one of four Estonian politicians elected to the First State Duma. This was like a parliament in Russia. He joined a group that wanted more self-rule. Tõnisson protested against the Russian government trying to take back new rights.

On June 23, 1906, Tõnisson and 177 other Duma members signed the Vyborg Appeal. This called for people to not obey the government. Tõnisson was later put on trial and sentenced to three months in prison. Even in prison, Tõnisson stayed active in politics. He worked to improve the Estonian school system. He helped open many Estonian-language high schools. The co-operation and farming policies he started helped Estonia grow richer.

Towards Self-Rule

After the February Revolution in Russia, Estonians quickly gained the right to self-rule. They could also form their own army. In March 1917, Tõnisson met with the Russian Prime Minister. Tõnisson supported dividing Estonia into two regions with self-rule. But Konstantin Päts's idea of a single Autonomous Governorate of Estonia was chosen. Tõnisson helped write the plan for this self-government.

Tõnisson was elected to the Estonian Provincial Assembly (Maapäev) in 1917. His party, now called the Estonian Democratic Party, won 7 out of 55 seats.

By late 1917, Tõnisson was one of the first Estonian politicians to demand full independence. After the October Revolution, local communists tried to close the Provincial Assembly. But on November 28, 1917, most members met and declared the assembly the true power in Estonia. Tõnisson supported this declaration, which led to a successful takeover.

Bolshevik forces arrested Tõnisson on December 4, 1917. He was forced out of the country on December 8. The assembly leaders secretly decided to send him to Stockholm. His job was to find support for Estonian independence. Tõnisson became the leader of Estonian Foreign Delegations. He held this role when Estonia declared independence on February 24, 1918. He met with German and French ambassadors to gain support. After Germany left Estonia, Tõnisson returned on November 16, 1918.

Estonian Independence and Leadership

From November 12, 1918, Tõnisson served as a minister in the Estonian Provisional Government. He also became a special minister abroad. He went to Finland to get weapons and loans for the coming Estonian War of Independence. He was also part of the Estonian group at the Paris Peace Conference.

For the elections to the Estonian Constituent Assembly, Tõnisson changed his party's name again to the Estonian People's Party. In the 1919 elections, his party won 25 out of 120 seats.

On November 18, 1919, Tõnisson became the Prime Minister of Estonia. The next day, his government decided to start peace talks with Russia. On February 2, 1920, the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed. This ended the War of Independence. Estonia and Russia were the first countries to recognize each other's independence.

Tõnisson's first government included his People's Party, the social democrats, and the Labour Party. This government ended on July 28, 1920. A new leader was hard to find. So, from July 30 to October 26, 1920, Jaan Tõnisson led his second government as Prime Minister.

His party lost popularity over time. But Tõnisson himself remained popular. He served as the President (speaker) of the Riigikogu from 1923 to 1925.

Jaan Tõnisson formed his third government on December 9, 1927. This was his first time as State Elder. This government lasted until December 4, 1928.

Tõnisson returned to major politics on February 12, 1931. He became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the early 1930s, the political situation in Estonia changed. Tõnisson's party joined with others to form the National Centre Party in 1932. This became the second largest party. Tõnisson then served again as the President (speaker) of the Riigikogu from 1932 to 1933.

On May 18, 1933, Jaan Tõnisson formed his fourth government. This was during the Great Depression. His government's decisions during this financial crisis made him less popular. However, these policies helped Estonia recover. In a 1933 vote, people approved a new constitution that gave more power to the leader. This led to Konstantin Päts coming to power in 1934. Päts soon stopped the work of political parties and the parliament. He also limited people's freedoms.

Tõnisson became a leader of the democratic opposition. His newspaper Postimees was taken over by the government. But Tõnisson kept promoting democratic ideas.

In the 1938 elections, Tõnisson was re-elected to the State Assembly. He continued to fight for full democracy in Estonia.

By 1939, Estonia was seen as being under the influence of the Soviet Union. This was after the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was signed. In 1940, the Soviet Union fully occupied Estonia. Tõnisson tried to convince President Konstantin Päts to resist the Soviet takeover. But Päts decided not to resist.

In the summer of 1940, Tõnisson started a campaign. He organized other candidates to run against the communist candidates in the elections for the Soviet-controlled parliament. The Soviets wanted complete control. They removed Tõnisson's rivals by force.

Parliamentary Membership

Jaan Tõnisson was a member of the Estonian parliament in different forms:

• 1917–1919 Estonian Provincial Assembly (Maapäev)
• 1919–1920 Estonian Constituent Assembly
• 1920–1923 I Riigikogu
• 1923–1926 II Riigikogu
• 1926–1929 III Riigikogu
• 1929–1932 IV Riigikogu
• 1932–1934/1937 V Riigikogu
• 1938–1940 VI Riigikogu – Riigivolikogu

Disappearance and Legacy

Soviet authorities arrested Tõnisson in autumn 1940. He was put on trial. During his trial, Tõnisson did not regret his actions. He also did not give away any information about other politicians who opposed the Soviets.

What happened to Tõnisson after the trial is still a mystery. It is believed he was killed in Tallinn in early July 1941. His burial place is unknown.

Tõnisson's strong beliefs and honorable death inspired Estonians for many years. They continued to resist the Soviet rule. This eventually led to Estonia regaining its independence in 1991. A memorial to Tõnisson was built in Tartu in 1999.

Awards and Honors

• 1920 – Cross of Liberty II/III
• 1920 – Cross of Liberty III/I
• 1925 – Cross of Liberty I/III
• 1928 – Order of the Estonian Red Cross I/I
• 1930 – Order of the Cross of the Eagle I
• 1938 – Order of the White Star I
• 1932 – Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia)
• 1939 – Royal Order of the Pole Star (Sweden) Grand Cross

Images for kids

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  Jaan Tõnisson (left) with Estonian General Gustav Jonson in 1938

See also

In Spanish: Jaan Tõnisson para niños