Jan Matejko, 1891 Oil on canvas, 227 x 446 cm. Warszawa, Royal Castle The Constitution Of May 3, 1791 Jan Matejko, 1891 Oil on canvas, 227 x 446 cm. Warszawa, Royal Castle

THE FIRST CONSTITUTIONS IN WORLD’S HISTORY The American Constitution of September 17, 1787 was the oldest Poland’s Constitution of May 3, 1791 was the second in the world The French Constitution of September 3, 1791 was the third...

PREAMBLE (Excerpts) ...We, the Polish Nation - all citizens of the Republic, Both those who believe in God as the source of truth, justice, good and beauty, As well as those not sharing such faith but respecting those universal values as arising from other sources, Equal in rights and obligations towards the common good – Poland... Bound in community with our compatriots dispersed throughout the world, Aware of the need for cooperation with all countries for the good of the Human Family... Desiring to guarantee the rights of the citizens for all time... Recognizing our responsibility before God.... ...paying respect to the inherent dignity of the person, his or her right to freedom...

Poland after the First Partition (Feb 17, 1772)

…and just before the 1st Partition

Kosciuszko taking the Oath as National Leader in Cracow, 24 March 1794 Wojciech Kossak, 1911. Kosciuszko taking the Oath as National Leader in Cracow, 24 March 1794 Oil on Canvas. 147 x 195 cm

Hero of Poland and America General Tadeusz Kościuszko 1746 - 1817 Hero of Poland and America In 1776 was commissioned as Colonel of Engineers and performed outstanding service of fortifying battle sites, Admired the Declaration of Independence and became one of the best friends of Thomas Jefferson, In 1783 was appointed Brigadier General and awarded the Cincinnati Order Medal by George Washington, Returned to Poland to help defend independence and the Constitution, In 1794 was made the Commander-in-Chief of all Polish forces fighting against the Russians, after initial successes was wounded and taken prisoner, Upon release from prison returned to America in 1797, his "second home", received a hero's welcome when he reached Philadelphia Died in Switzerland in 1817 and was buried in Wawel Castle among the tombs of the Polish Kings...

Things and Places Named after Kościuszko Mount Kosciuszko, Australia

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, his home, in Philadelphia

Kosciusko, Mississippi The county seat, Kosciusko, was named by the area's state representative, William Dodd. His grandfather, a Revolutionary War veteran, had greatly admired the Polish patriot, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, whose love of freedom led him to help the colonies during America's struggle for independence.

Towns, statues, streets, parks, bridges, universities named after Kościuszko in various countries (USA, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Bielorussia) Detroit Washington D.C. Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Łódź, Poland Kosciusko County in Indiana One of many schools in Poland, named after him (Mysłowice)

"As pure a son of liberty as I have ever known…" Tadeusz Kościuszko was also the patron of 1st Regiment of the Polish 5th Rifle Division, 1st Division of the Polish 1st Army and the 303rd Polish Squadron There are also two ships named after him: S/S Kosciuszko and ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko, a former US Navy frigate transferred to Poland Thomas Jefferson about Tadeusz Kościuszko: "As pure a son of liberty as I have ever known…"

Mazurek (Polonez) 3 Maja Rajnold Suchodolski Tam w łazienkach jest ruina, w której Polak pamięć chował, tam za czasów Konstantyna szpieg na nasze łzy czatował. I gdy nadszedł Trzeci Maj, kajdanami brzęczał kraj. W piersiach rozpacz uwięziona w listopadzie wstrząsła serce, wstaje Polska z grobu łona, pierzchają dumni morderce. Błysnął znowu Trzeci Maj i już wolny błogi kraj. Witaj, majowa jutrzenko świeć naszej polskiej krainie uczcimy ciebie piosenką która w całej polsce słynie Witaj Maj, Trzeci Maj, u Polaków błogi raj! Nierząd braci naszych cisnął, gnuśność w ręku króla spała, a wtem Trzeci Maj zabłysnął i nasza Polska powstała. Wiwat, Maj, piękny Maj, wiwat wielki Kołłątaj!