Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth · 1772-1795

The partitions of Poland

In 23 years three neighbours divide one of Europe's largest states among themselves until it vanishes from the map. Students compare the borders of 1700 and 1800, meet the reformers of the Constitution of 3 May 1791 and Kościuszko's rising, and ask how a country can disappear.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
13–16
On the map
3 steps, AD 1700 to AD 1800
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

In 23 years three neighbours divide one of Europe's largest states among themselves until it vanishes from the map. Students compare the borders of 1700 and 1800, meet the reformers of the Constitution of 3 May 1791 and Kościuszko's rising, and ask how a country can disappear.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Name the three powers that partitioned Poland-Lithuania and the years of the partitions.
  • Explain why the Commonwealth was too weak to resist its neighbours.
  • Explain why the Constitution of 3 May 1791 was important.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 1700

Before

Open the map in 1700 and zoom in on eastern Europe. Find the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and its three big neighbours: Russia, Prussia and the Austrian Habsburg lands.

Open this view on the map
b

AD 1783

The river cut off

Go to 1783 and follow the Vistula north to Gdańsk. After 1772 Prussia held the land along its lower course. Why was that a heavy blow to Poland's trade?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 1800

After

Jump to 1800 and look at the same area. Where has the Commonwealth gone? Which states now rule Warsaw, Kraków and Vilnius?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. In 1772 Russia, Prussia and Austria took land from Poland without a major war. How was that possible?
  2. The liberum veto let one deputy block the Sejm. How did neighbours use it to keep Poland weak?
  3. The Constitution of 3 May 1791 tried to make the state stronger. Why did Russia see it as a threat?
  4. After 1795 Poland was gone from the map for 123 years, but the Polish language and culture survived. How?
  5. Is it ever right for powerful neighbours to divide a weaker state? What does this case teach?
4

Game round

10 min

Play a round of Rule History as Frederick the Great, who pushed for the first partition in 1772 and gained West Prussia. Discuss: now look from Warsaw. What could the Polish king and nobles have done differently?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

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