Historical Context

During the late 1700s, Poland was split between Austria, Russia, and Prussia. These divisions were called the Partitions of Poland.

["Cartoon Depicting the Partitioning of Poland." Gale World History Online Collection, 1772.]

[Eugeniusz Romer. History. Library of Congress Blog, 1916.]

Many people protested the separation of Poland and the imbalance of power it created.

["Cartoon on the First Partition of Poland." Exploring History, 1772.]

["A Protest Against the First Partition at Sejm." Exploring History, 1773.]

Russia, under the rule of Alexander II, exerted a strict control over their partition and prohibited any form of Polish nationalism. They stripped Polish culture from school curriculums and replaced it with Russian history. In this oppressive environment, Marie faced many challenges while growing up.

["Alexander II, Czar of the Russian Empire." St. James Encyclopedia of Labor History Worldwide, 2004.]

“Constantly held in suspicion and spied upon, the children knew that a single conversation in Polish, or an imprudent word, might seriously harm, not only themselves, but also their families.”
~ Marie Curie

[Pierre Curie, 1923]

“At other times we passed the border of our Russian-ruled division (Congress Poland) and went southwards . . . where the Austrian political control was less oppressive than that which we suffered.”
~ Marie Curie

[Pierre Curie, 1923]

[Stanislaus von Chlebowski. Polish insurrectionists of the 1863 rebellion, 1860-1869. ArtNet, 1863.]

Many Poles, such as Marie's family, resented Russian rule and yearned to see Poland independent again. They were forced to suppress their patriotism to avoid punishment from Russian officials. This despotism lasted until 1918.

“The latter [government-run schools], entirely Russian, were directly opposed to the Polish national spirit. [...] This abnormal situation resulted in exciting the patriotic feeling of Polish youths to the highest degree.”
~ Marie Curie

[Pierre Curie, 1923]

Thesis Early Life